Cornish Rocks - Gasping for Air and Dieing

[Dragonfly Ranch]

We purchased our Cornish Rocks on February 22, 2010. Everyone has been doing fine until this weekend when we noticed one bird sick and now another. Here is the information that we have

What type of bird, age, weight

Cornish Rock - 3 weeks - slightly feathered and same size as other 23 birds

What is the behavior, exactly

In the corner by itself, puffed up, gasping for air. The one that did this over the weekend we isolated and after a few minutes it pooped really big and then seemed OK. It's rear end seems enlarged some but not really more than others. the vent was clear but seemed a bit smaller in the opening than other birds I compared with.

How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

Only noticed this one this morning but the same as the one over the weekend

Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other signs of trauma

No

What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation

We don't know of anything seemed to be eating and drinking as all the others

What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all

Chicken Crumbles, 21% raw protein, water with Broiler Mix (Vitamins from Murray McMurray)

How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? runny? etc

The one that pooped this weekend looked normal just bigger than normal - colored and white at the end and firm

What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

Nothing as of yet

What is your intent as far as treatment?

Looking for advise here to treat ourselves if possible

Describe the housing/bedding in use

Large brooder, pine shaving, heat lamp natural light from window no drafts

Thanking you in advance for your assistance.

Sandee

 

[DuckLady]

Wow, that's a tough one.

Are they overheated? Those meat chicks will generate a lot of heat.

Make sure the feed is fresh and not moldy.

You might try adding electrolyte powder in the waterer.

 

[bigredfeather]

Sounds like the signs of a flip(heart failure). You aren't feeding them a super high protein feed, so that isn't the cause. Have you been feeding 24/7 or are you taking their feed away for 12 hours?

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Quote:
We are taking the feed away after about 10:30am. When we feed the following morning it is a frenzy and we are wondering if may be they are stuffing themselves so much that it caused them to have their crop to full and then they are gasping for air. We didn't have this problem last year, but then again we have 1/2 the amount of birds.

I'm stopping on the way home to get another feeder and we are doing to separate into two smaller groups and see if that helps. We don't know what else to do.

Thank you for your help.

Sandee

 

[babsbag]

Please let us know how it goes

 

[cassie]

You are taking the feed away at ten in the morning? That may be the problem. Go to welphatchery.com. You will find good instructions for caring for Cornish X there. We feed ours turkey feed because we can't get broiler feed. We put the feed down at seven in the morning and take it away at seven at night. They have all they want to eat during the time they have it available. High protein feed will not kill them. The reverse is true. They need high powered feed to support themselves.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Quote:
We feed them twice, putting the first round of food down at 7:30am and they are done with first around by 10:30am - then we add a second round until about 2:30pm (all the food is gone both times). I will check the other website since we are going by what Murray McMurrray said. We did add a second feeder this morning and the feeding frenzy was much better. Regardless, I'll talk with my husband tonight and see about feeding a bit longer.

GOOD NEWS - the two that were having problems yesterday seem to have made it through. We isolated one and same thing after it pooped a bunch it was fine. We need to get some more feed this weekend and will have to go with a raw protein feed that is 30% since that is all that we can get. We have to get non-medicated since we have the birds vaccinated and it is really hard to find non-medicated in our area on top of the proper protein.

Thanks for your support

Sandee

 

[cassie]

Quote:
Could you have misinterpreted what Murray said? Unless they have changed instructions ( I haven't checked for a while), Murray says essentially the same thing Welp does. Feed high protein feed and let the feed run out in the late afternoon or so. They should have feed available free choice for about 12 hours straight.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Quote:
Could you have misinterpreted what Murray said? Unless they have changed instructions ( I haven't checked for a while), Murray says essentially the same thing Welp does. Feed high protein feed and let the feed run out in the late afternoon or so. They should have feed available free choice for about 12 hours straight.

Thank you I talked with my husband and he already started feeding them longer - just didn't tell me that. So hopefully things will smooth out here real soon

Sandee