Chicks dying unexpectedly, swollen crop, opening and closing mouth

[Farmer2379]

I bought 5 Orpington chicks between 1 and 7 days old. All at different times I noticed one chick under the lamp not really moving just sleeping. Won’t open its eyes and won’t eat but will drink lots when I put their beak to the water. Their crop seems large and squishy like it’s full of air or could be water also. I notice they constantly open and close their mouth and looking up like they’re gasping, but not making a strangled noise, their breathing sounds normal. They are on medicated chick starter feed and they have vitamin water. I have tried penicillin, yogurt for probiotics and oil in case they had gas stuck in their crop. They have wood shavings for bedding. I also noticed that the 2 silkie chicks I have in with them that I bought from someone else are fine and also Rhode Island reds I bought from someone else are also fine. All 5 of my Orpington chicks died so I got more from the same guy as replacements but one of the replacements has already died like the rest.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like he has sold you weak, sick, or dying chicks. Do any have pasty butt? If you can give them a drop or two of Poultry NutriDrench, and keep them drinking, perhaps you can save them. I hope that they get better, but if they are struggling so young, it could be that they won’t make it. Are they under a heat source in a brooder? Sorry for your loss.

 

[Farmer2379]

It sounds like he has sold you weak, sick, or dying chicks. Do any have pasty butt? If you can give them a drop or two of Poultry NutriDrench, and keep them drinking, perhaps you can save them. I hope that they get better, but if they are struggling so young, it could be that they won’t make it. Are they under a heat source in a brooder? Sorry for your loss.

Yes, they have good heat and no past butt. I am going into town tomorrow I will see if I can find nitridrench or something similar. I also hope we don’t lose anymore.