Chicks Dying

[bawkbawkbawk]

Thanks for clarifying. Would love to know how you avoid predators short of keeping them cooped up all the time. Just lost a hen to a coyote last week...

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chicks are bad to pile up and suffocate each other. I once saw dead chicks piled 4 feet deep when the power failed and they all tried to huddle together at the same end of the house attempting to stay warm.

 

[Delmara]

Chicks are bad to pile up and suffocate each other.  I once saw dead chicks piled 4 feet deep when the power failed and they all tried to huddle together at the same end of the house attempting to stay warm. 

Oh my lands, that's terrible T^T

 

[kuchchicks]

I just found 3 more chicks dead!!!

I thought I was in the clear. Everyone was in the outside coop, heat lamp off, temps over the past few days started out in the 60s over the weekend and gradually cooled to 35 today. It doesn't really even feel that cold. I found one dead in the coop and 2 dead in the run. They were not dead this morning at 10:30. When I went back out at 2p to clean my coops they were dead. No signs of trauma. No predator. Just looks like they fell over and died! I do not know what to do. No one looks sick. No bloody poop. I have one chick that I noticed to that seems like she has a decreased appetite. I removed her and have her in the house so I can try to help her. The only other thing to note is that these chicks ALWAYS act like they are starving. But every time I go to feed them there is still some food in the feeder so they can eat if they want. I added new food when I cleaned the coops and then was doing some othe chores outside. I was out there for about 2 hours and they were all chirping loudly like they had no food. I've had chickens for 7 years so I know chick behavior. To me this seem a little more excessive.

So now here I am with a total of 8 out of 29 birds dead. Almost a 30% loss! I don't know what to do. I'm thinking of trying antibiotics but at this point it would just be me throwing shots in the dark.

Can anyone help me?!!!!PLEASE!

 

[realsis]

what you can do is freeze a chick that has passed and send the body to your state lab to find out EXACTLY what you are dealing with so you can treat the others with the knowledge of what's REALLY going on here
no more guess work. I believe the state lab can get the results rather quickly if you explain what's going on and that you don't want to loose what's left of your stock. Honestly at this point it is wise if you do this. you could also take the body to the vet for study however the results would take a LOT longer with the vet because they have to send the samples out rather than have a on site area like the state will.If you decide NOT to do this there is no real way to know what's happening. or if it's contagious, or environmental.These are things you MUST know in order to make the correct decisions with the rest. This way you will know how to treat the illness.I know the idea of freezing and wrapping up and sending off a dead chick is repulsive, but it's really the ONLY way your going to know what's happening. Also I would keep the chicks separated from your other poultry incase they are carrying a virus. Hatcheries CAN have some of the BIG viruses. unfortunately. Do you know if this particular hatchery is a N.P.I.P facility? Did they offer N.P.I.P certificates for the chicks? if so they likely do NOT have some of the more deadly viruses as they are tested for those. Anyway I truly hope this is helpful to you and please let us know what you decide to do.I'm so sorry this is happening to you!!

 

[kuchchicks]

How do I find out where to send it?

 

[enola]

Laboratories prefer that animals sent for necropsies be refrigerated rather than frozen.

 

[realsis]

Laboratories prefer that animals sent for necropsies be refrigerated rather than frozen.

ok then don't freeze, refrigerate. However if it's difficult to find out what is killing these chicks, a lab study a.k.a.having necropsies done then I think it will really help you out. knowing EXACTLY what's going on will greatly help in fixing the issue if that's possible. it will also give you a peace of mind knowing the problem. I really hope this helps and I'm so very sorry this is happening.

 

[realsis]

to find the state lab phone number or contact information I believe you can call a vet and tell them your situation and ask if they have the information for your area and see if they will give that to you. That's one way you can quickly find out your state's information. let us know how things go please.

 

[kuchchicks]

So good news is that I was able to find the phone number to talk to someone at the state. Bad news is that is was 5 o'clock on a Friday and most people had left for the day. I was luckily able to talk to one of the pathologists and after some chatting she felt that she would treat for coccidosis. There was no bloody poop but since you can have the disease without bloody poop and it is one of the top reasons chicks this age die, I decided to go ahead with the Corrid. I put the first dose out there. Sadly I ended up with one more chick dead since then. I am so devastated.

I am going to send 6 birds down for necropsy on Monday. It will cost about $100 but will give me a more definitive answer. Hopefully it will not be too late.

I am so frustrated. I always try to care for my birds as best I can. I keep their homes clean, give them fresh water and food everyday... ugh. I hate this!