First Time Ever!!! Week Old chicks dying!

[theswede]

First time in 15 years has this ever happened to me. I put a batch of new buff orps in the brooder and they did fine for a week, then they started dying! It looked as if they were smotherd, but they have heat and are dry. I noticed a couple of them (before they died) that the lower half of their body was as if rig had started setting in. Their heads could move and they could peep, but after about 10 minutes they died.

Does anyone have any idea what caused this?? I've never had this to happen before!

 

[lykinsangel]

I haven't ever seen this, does this happen to all chicks??

 

[Andora]

I have no idea. This has never happened to me. Could it be some kind of vitamin deficiency?

I hope someone comes along and has an answer for you soon.

 

[theswede]

Quote:
Thanks Andora, I really don't know what it could have been. Hope someone will have an answer, if not I guess I can try the USDA office.

 

[chickentracy]

Could they have gotten coccidiosis? You would need to take immediate action if they have coccidiosis as it takes them REAL fast!

I know, as I recently had it take a whole brooder of chicks (3 weeks old).

You will need to buy a cocciostat from your feed dealer. It is available in a powdered form or I believe there's a liquid version too.

My area feed stores were out of the medication at the time.

 

[Jerad0]

I would also change feed,and give them egg yolk.

 

[threehorses]

We need more information, sadly. What exactly are you feeding them? Examples: amprolium medicated chick starter grower

What is the exact temp of the brooder?

What heat source are you using?

When the babies are sleeping, do they pile on one another? Do they all sit under the light, or do they sit away from it on the edges, or spread about around the brooder?

Are you using anything in the water?

You will indeed need a coccidiocide actually - the coccidiostat is the med in the feed. Sulmet or Corid are two common and good choices. I'd also pick up a B-complex vitamin from the store, and Enfamil PolyViSol baby vitamins (non-iron) from the vitamin section of Walmart, etc. And either plain unflavored yogurt, or acidophilis capsules from the vitamin section.

Any chance that the babies got any water in their food and it soured? Or any spilled in their bedding?

Is the feed you're using very very fresh, stored cool and dark, smells strongly of fresh ingredients?

Do you keep them on shavings, paper, newspaper, hay, or wire?
Do you clean out their waterers twice a day if you see droppigns in the waterer?

I'd hold off on the egg yolk (and if you ever feed it, feed it cooked - boiled) because sometimes cocci (in coccidiosis) bloom with added protein. But I'd get some ready just in case.

p.s. Definitely I'd buy a different bag of feed in case something's wrong with the feed. Pick up a poultry vitamin/electrolyte package while you're there getting the Sulmet or Corid. Chick starter, amprolium as the only medication, and make sure it's good and fresh before you leave the feed store parking lot by smelling it. If it smells like cardboard, it's not fresh.

 

[theswede]

To All,
I keep my brooder around 85' for a couple of weeks, unless the temp is higher, then I use a box fan on low to circulate the air. During this time is was around 85.

As for heat I use a 250w red light when they are in the brooder and two 125w lights when they are in the baby room.

They do gather together which is why I first thought they may have suffocated, but after seeing first hand how they died I ruled that out.

No I don't use anything in their water, I just keep them full and changed out daily.

Their water and feed are seperated, I have converted my barn from a horse barn to chickens. And I'm using a stall strickly for the chicks, so they have plenty of room.

As for their feed I did in deed buy some from TSC, and that was different. I usually by starter at my Co-Op store. But when I fed it to my juvenilles they were fine.

I don't and have never used chemicals on my chicks. And have never had any problems in the past. Sounds like it may be time to get some.

I keep my chicks on cedar shavings in the brooder, and on regular sawdust in the chick room. They seem to really like pecking at the little bits and pieces. And never have had any problem using either type.

Wow!! Thanks for all the great tips!! Going to the store today.

 

[theswede]

Quote:
Did you notice if they did like I described? Kind of like rig was setting in first in their lower half and them working it's way up till they died? That's what was so strange to me.

My chicks haven't ever had any type of disease, is this how cocciostat works?
Thanks again for the help.

 

[FisherMOM]

what about pullorum? Here is a link... not sure though, it doesnt mention rig setting in, but talks of lameness...

http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/FactSheets/Pullorum.htm