Dying poults

[Nagogx]

Sadly our poults have started dying. 3 so far this week. They seem to be roaming around with no problems then now this. The first 2 were 3 weeks old and the latest one about 5 weeks. Right from the start I had problems with the youngest ones not eating. When we pick up these dead poults they seem very thin. Their bones can be easily felt.

We are feeding them turkey starter which has about 22% protein. I know its less than recommended but its the highest protein food we can get here in New Zealand. We give them all sorts of grasses, weeds and vegetables. They are very fussy eaters. They seem to eat the starter now plus the grasses & weeds. They will eat lettuce and young vege leaves.

Why are the dead ones so thin and is it normal to starve themselves? We put out plenty of food and water daily. We don't know what else to do.

The latest poult to die was 5 weeks and it seemed to have trouble extending its neck for some reason.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I have no clue with poults, however if they are thin they're not getting enough protein or possible worms? Instead of grasses, weeds & veggies (no nutritional value) can you get some freeze dried mealworms or even live ones? Try searching the forums as to what more can be feed, sorry I can't be much more help but I'm sure there are other BYC Members that may be of some help. Sorry for you losses

 

[R2elk]

Sadly our poults have started dying. 3 so far this week. They seem to be roaming around with no problems then now this. The first 2 were 3 weeks old and the latest one about 5 weeks. Right from the start I had problems with the youngest ones not eating. When we pick up these dead poults they seem very thin. Their bones can be easily felt.

We are feeding them turkey starter which has about 22% protein. I know its less than recommended but its the highest protein food we can get here in New Zealand. We give them all sorts of grasses, weeds and vegetables. They are very fussy eaters. They seem to eat the starter now plus the grasses & weeds. They will eat lettuce and young vege leaves.

Why are the dead ones so thin and is it normal to starve themselves? We put out plenty of food and water daily. We don't know what else to do.

The latest poult to die was 5 weeks and it seemed to have trouble extending its neck for some reason.

In my opinion you have not provided enough information to guess what your problem is. It sounds like it may either be disease or nutrition. They may be suffering from vitamin deficiencies or or the inability to properly digest their food because of the lack of grit in their diet.

When feeding other than processed starter food they need to have grit in their system to be able to grind the other types of food fine enough to be able to digest them.

Try hard boiling eggs and crumbling them up for feed and adding a quality vitamin source to their drinking water.