Help! All my chicks are dying!

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cafarmgirl said:
At one to four days old chicks really need one spot in the brooder where they can go to warm up that is 90-95 degrees.  The rest of the brooder and the room where they are kept should be cooler.  So while your general area is about 80 it's possible that those youngest birds are not finding a place that is warm enough.  Put a thermometer under your light and see what the temp is there.  A 75 watt regular bulb may not make enough warmth for them at that age.  If they were raised by a hen they would be out and about at whatever the temp was outside, then they will tuck back under their mama to warm up when needed.  A brooder should be the same, one spot where they can go to warm up, the rest cooler. 
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I also messed up on the age, they were 1-4 days when I first picked them up, but we have now had them for just over a week, so that would put some of them at 1-1/2 weeks old. I will have to check the temp under the bulb, I also have been reducing the temp in the room itself, as maybe it was too hot. Thank you for the info!
 
I have been trying to do research all night, it seems as though they may be a tad young to be dying off from Marek's.. Does anyone have any input on this subject?

I have noticed before each chick has died that they start by stumbling a bit, then becoming quite lethargic, can't stand, they start by just laying down, and then they reach the point of laying down with they're wings out, almost as though they have lost any control over their bodies. They almost seem as though they are extremely exhausted. Once the lethargy begins they also keep their eyes closed, they will not get up and eat on their own, however, will take water/mashed food through a syringe, all while keeping eyes closed. All of the symptoms come extremely quick, as soon as we have noticed "which chick is next", it's too late for it.

I hope this all makes sense, but I am hoping by providing the timeline of their sickness/death, maybe it will provide an answer as to what disease/sickness they may be getting.
 
Have you given poultry vitamins to them.?
Also chick starter medicated.
PUt the vitamins on the tongue. asap
 
Last edited:
could it possibly be coccidosis? not all cocci makes bloody stool. Cord is given for cocci. What does their stool look like. are they acting sleepy, lethergic? look online at coccidosis. Keeping in mind it does not always make bloody stool..One more thing, the brooder light is used to. keep the brooder certain temperature. Reducing the temperature each week. a Thermometer is a must. They need a warm side and cool side temperature is reduced each week. the heat bulb adjusted accordingly. Don't give up. Take the Chicks that are offered as replacement. I would have some Cord on hand incase they show signs of coccidosis. Maybe they came with cocci and the symptoms are now appearing? If the temperature is correct, my guess is coccidosis. which can be successfully treated with Corid. The active ingredient is Amprolium. hope this helps.
 
realsis said:
could it possibly be coccidosis? not all cocci makes bloody stool. Cord is given for cocci. What does their stool look like. are they acting sleepy, lethergic? look online at coccidosis. Keeping in mind it does not always make bloody stool..One more thing, the brooder light is used to. keep the brooder certain temperature. Reducing the temperature each week. a Thermometer is a must. They need a warm side and cool side temperature is reduced each week. the heat bulb adjusted accordingly. Don't give up. Take the Chicks that are offered as replacement. I would have some Cord on hand incase they show signs of coccidosis. Maybe they came with cocci and the symptoms are now appearing? If the temperature is correct, my guess is coccidosis. which can be successfully treated with Corid. The active ingredient is Amprolium. hope this helps.
Click to expand...


I am leaning towards it being cocci, also is it too early for them to be dying if it were Marek's? These birds were unvaccinated
 
Also, what baffles me is that the two older pullets, not positive on age but they are fully feathered, are in a larger brooder box that is right next to these babies, and they are absolutely fine! They came from two different places too, and I am curious if maybe the big ones were vaccinated before we got them
 

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