Dying Chicks!!!

[Laci7210]

They hatched last Wednesday. So almost a week old. My dad has cows and I just found out that he gets corid for sick calves sometimes so he's going to see if he has any left. Thanks!!

 

[FreeRangeSpirit]

I have know idea what happened. This is the first time I have ever had this many chicks die. I eliminated the idea about the old feed, because the only ones dying were the normal chickens, not the meat birds. It also wasn't shipping stress, for the same reason.They have stopped dying off, but in all we lost about 25. Any ideas of what it could have been?

 

[chickittychick]

Hi Everyone, I'm new to raising my own chickens. My family has always had them. I bought 6 chicks last Thursday they were delivered to the grain and feed store the day before I purchased. I've done everything by the book except for the water supplement. 5 days into our journey 4 out of 6 started falling over flipping over flapping wings chirping loudly and died. I'm devastated the last two have labored breathing and look weak. Not sure they will make it through the night. It is between 85-90 under the lamp they eat medicated feed. Any ideas?

 

[ten chicks]

Hi Everyone, I'm new to raising my own chickens. My family has always had them. I bought 6 chicks last Thursday they were delivered to the grain and feed store the day before I purchased. I've done everything by the book except for the water supplement. 5 days into our journey 4 out of 6 started falling over flipping over flapping wings chirping loudly and died. I'm devastated the last two have labored breathing and look weak. Not sure they will make it through the night. It is between 85-90 under the lamp they eat medicated feed. Any ideas?

Check your heat lamp/brackets/casing/etc.,make sure nothing contains teflon as it is toxic to birds. How old are they? Coccidiosis is always a possibility with young chicks. Some symptoms of cocci are: runny/watery poop(may or may NOT contain blood,depends on which strain it is)fluffed feathers,lethargic,not eating/drinking properly. Cocci is the leading cause of death among chicks and can kill very fast,but is easily controlled using a coccidiostat such as Corid(amprolium).

Chicks on medicated feed can still have an overload/outbreak of coccidiosis. Cocci is a parasitic infection of the intestinal tract and is spread from bird to bird by droppings which get into feed/water via droppings.

If symptoms match,purchase Corid(amprolium)dose for Corid 9.6% liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water,dose for Corid 20% powder is 1-1.5 tsp per gallon of water. Treat ALL chicks fro 5 days, Do not give vitamins during treatment as they interfere with the ability of coccidiostat to work,give vitamins after treatment is complete. Make sure medicated water is the only water.

Note: Corid is found in the cattle section and will say for cattle,but is safe for poultry and one of the best coccidiostats.

How are chicks acting in brooder,are they away from heat lamp,under heat lamp or spread out?

 

[chickittychick]

Thank you for responding. Surprisingly the last two are still alive. I'm just really confused these two did not look good last night, they are walking around eating and drinking they look good this morning the lamp last night read just under 90. There poops look normal. So should I just assume that they coccidiosis? What if they don't but I treat them for it. What will that do?

 

[my sunwolf]

This happened to me with a batch of meat birds, and my problems were due to temperature and piling. If you have never brooded this many chicks at once before, consider that they might have all been piling under the heat source and squishing each other.

There are a couple of illnesses that could cause that much death as well--if they are day-old chicks and haven't been exposed to any other chickens, the disease is probably from the hatchery.