EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[casportpony]

18462472

Okay, y'all chicken experts... I need your help, again.

Went down to check on the PCs today and found Carey on his last gasps, flat on the brooder floor and unable to stand or hold his head up. He kept moving his legs like he was trying to stand but they weren't really connected to the rest of him... Like how you feel when you try to walk after you have a hard fall, if that makes sense. I checked him over... Nothing physically wrong, that I could tell, major bones intact and body condition good. His crop was empty, which was odd, and when I prodded his crop and neck to feel if there was anything broke he vomited up clear liquid. He died five minutes after that. The liquid had no smell, it was just clear water.

The other two chicks in the same brooder were the same as usual... Bouncy little brats clamoring at the door to be let out.

He was normal last night, active, eating, drinking... And gone this morning.

Bedding was pine shavings, like he and all the rest of my chickens have. They're in my basement, but off heat. Feed is chick crumble, they have clean water to drink...
I thought of choking, but I couldn't feel any blockage in the neck and he was breathing, just limp.

This really has me puzzled.

@casportpony ?

I'm cross posting this to a new thread in the emergencies forum, because I really want to know what caused this and how I can prevent it from happening again.

Sorry for your loss. How old? Did he aspirate when you palpated his crop? Death throes can include the things you saw, but so can other ailments. Best to keep a very close eye on the others, especially their poop.

 

[casportpony]

Hi everyone, hope all of you are doing well and getting used to the new platform.

 

[casportpony]

Too cute!

 

[BantyChooks]

Out of curiosity I'm wondering what everyone does with eggs that never hatch? I had 6 that developed but never pipped. My daughter said we should throw them out, but I was thinking maybe of burying them in the garden for fertilizer. Anyone have any thoughts on this or other suggestions?

I chuck them in the woods.

18462472

Sorry for your loss. How old? Did he aspirate when you palpated his crop? Death throes can include the things you saw, but so can other ailments. Best to keep a very close eye on the others, especially their poop.

Thank you.
He was four weeks old, I believe. He didn't die immediately after I checked his crop, but it probably helped kill him. When I saw that he was vomiting liquid, I lifted his head up and he started breathing easier after that... Was that the right thing to do?
I'm keeping a very close eye on the others.

 

[kwhites634]

I'm annoyed with myself for not being able to remember a single thing about that. Five years ago, I knew.

Neurological?

 

[BantyChooks]

Neurological?

Possibly.

 

[dan26552]

 

[dan26552]

Did I scare everyone?

 

[BantyChooks]

Did I scare everyone?

Yes. We're all hiding.

 

[BantyChooks]

The two chicks left are yelling for their friend, poor things.