Dying Chicks!!!

[FreeRangeSpirit]

I had another post called dying chicks please help! But the situation has worsened. I bought 44 chicks from MurrayMcmurray, put them in my shop with pine wood shavings, separated the meat birds form the normals, put Quik Chik (electrolyte supplement) in their water, and chick feed in the feeders. They couldn't have had a very hard shipment because they arrived a day after we ordered them. Now, 20 are dead!! We know they are going to die when they act unresponsive and sleepy and flop around with their wings spread out. Please help!!

 

[boskelli1571]

An awful problem to be sure, so here's a bunch of questions - is the temp in the brooder ok?; are they eating/drinking ok; pooping ok; how were they acting before they became sick; any toxic fumes in the shed? Are both groups acting the same; any chance the food is contaminated?
It sounds like you need to contact McMurray hatchery immediately so that you can get a refund on your birds.
I'm not sure what is going on, hopefully someone here can be more helpful,

 

[FreeRangeSpirit]

The heat lamps are about 16in off the ground. The meat birds are eating and drinking lots more than the norms. The feed is kind of old, but that shouldn't make much of a difference, right? I noticed many of the norms have diarrhea.

 

[enola]

The feed is old? And they have diarrhea?

Don't you think changing to new fresh feed might help?

Overheating and diarrhea will kill them pretty fast.

 

[boskelli1571]

Old feed has a good chance of having mold in it, as Enola points out - it will kill chicks quickly. Get some new feed, check your temp. it should be 95F for the 1st week, reduce by 5 degrees every week.

 

[Laci7210]

I have the same problem with my chicks! My feed is Purina flock raiser and less than a month old! I had 32 and I have lost 4 in 2 days! One of the live ones is acting sick now too! Ideas???

 

[enola]

Make sure your brooder is not too hot. This is VERY important. Dehydration will kill chicks very quickly. How old are your chicks Laci?

 

[enola]

The heat lamps are about 16in off the ground. The meat birds are eating and drinking lots more than the norms. The feed is kind of old, but that shouldn't make much of a difference, right? I noticed many of the norms have diarrhea.

Do your chicks gather under the heat lamp? Or stay away from the lamp?

 

[Nambroth]

The heat lamps are about 16in off the ground. The meat birds are eating and drinking lots more than the norms. The feed is kind of old, but that shouldn't make much of a difference, right? I noticed many of the norms have diarrhea.

Get a thermometer in there so you can find out the actual temperature!
And yes, old feed can indeed be a problem. Not only does the nutrition degrade over time (which won't kill them right away, but may land you with some deficiencies later on) but if it has any mold that can be quite toxic to chickens. Especially chicks. Mold is not always visible. When in doubt, toss old feed and offer fresh.

 

[Laci7210]

Make sure your brooder is not too hot. This is VERY important. Dehydration will kill chicks very quickly. How old are your chicks Laci?

It is 90 in there right now, but since they are in a shed, it gets cold sometimes. Tonight it is going to be 25 outside! My chicks hatched march 12, Wednesday, and got here yesterday morning, Friday.