EMERGENCY! Two chicks dead out of nowhere and I’ve going down

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

I went out to the chicks pen yesterday where they were being contained while able to explore, since it’s warm out, and I found a dead chick. Dirt I it’s mouth, but no obvious cause of death. Now this morning I put them out and when I checked later, another dead one and one crouched on the floor not doing anything. What could be happening? I have the living one in my “hospital” bin under a heat lamp. Can any one “autopsy” the dead one I have here?

The dead one has water or goop of some kind leaking. Could it have drowned? They have a drinker in their pen.

 

[getaclue]

Stop putting them out.

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

Ok. I brought them back in and they’re all taking a nap. The one that wasn’t doing so well has pasty butt so I got most of that off, but there’s still a dry ooo partially in the vent that I’m afraid to pull out. We’re they too cold? Sick? When is a safe age the CAN go outside?

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

The sick one won’t eat and it’s crop is empty.

 

[getaclue]

How old are these chicks? They look young enough that they should be in a brooder. What are you feeding them? Coccidosis is one of the more common ailments in chicks, even with medicated chick starter. Did it look there might have been blood in their pooh? Did you feed them grit before putting them outside? Chicks don't need grit for eating feed, but it's important they have some, before the go outside, and possibly eat something other than their feed.