help chicks dropping like flies not even making it out of incubator

[chick beach]

I'm new to chicken hatching and have been doing ok but a friend of mine got a few of my eggs to hatch herself and the first 2 hatchings went ok but the last batch started dying right away one chick didn't even make it out of the incubator. now some of her older chicks are starting to die which have had no physical contact with the ones that just hatched. the older chicks where very healthy and running around and then died within 24 hours of being fine. Can anyone help me would considser that it might be coccisidiosis but seems to be killing to fast and killing chicks that haven't eatten anything. some chicks look like they pooped out there insides.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

I am sorry you are having so much trouble. Do you have them under a heat lamp with the proper temp with feed, water, enough room, etc...? Cocci doesn't strike this early in a chicks life. Generally between the ages of 2 and 4 weeks of age, although older birds and adults can contract cocci as well.

Do some reading in this thread here on brooding chicks. Maybe this will help you figure out what is going on...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens

Also, an incubator needs to be completely disinfected and fumigated between hatches or you are breeding bacteria and virus's. If this has not been done with this hatch, it is possible they are dying from some brooded disease. The brooders as well as all equipment must be thoroughly disinfected as well each time as the same bacteria and virus's are breeding.

You can also post this question in our Hatching Chicks section here on BYC for more info on this situation...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs

Good luck with these babies. I hope you get this solved soon.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some good links to get you started on helping your friend. Agree that the most likely problems are a housing/brooder issue, or if the chicks are under a week old infection, yolk sack / navel issue (which may be what she means by pooped inside out) https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mushy-chick-disease-yolk-sack-infection-omphalitis or if two weeks old, coccidia, which can kill young chicks really quickly. Do you know the ages of the chicks having problems?

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

Happy hatching

 

[chick beach]

the chicks are being taken care of in a proper brooder set up and have had no physical contact with the older chicks which have now started to die. The first chicks to die where the 3 batch of chicks to be hatched the first 2 batchs where doing fine until the latest hatch came along then after the new hatches started to die the 2nd batch that is 2.5 weeks old started to die and as I said they have had no physical contact they are both in the basement. the 2nd batch has also been on medicated feed since hatching so far the first hatch hasn't been affected they are about a month and a half old. all the eggs are from me so far I haven't had any problems like this with my hatches. She has also had another incubator that none of the chicks hatched they where put in at the same time as the 3rd hatch I hope this all makes sense
thanks for any suggestions you might have

 

[chick beach]

Just so I know what is the best way to sterilize the incubators

 

[drumstick diva]

I'm sorry I don't have a clue - unless some kind of fumes are entering the room - maybe co or something else that they are very sensitive to. I am wondering if her hatch where it looks like their insides are coming out, is because they hatched too soon.

If you could post all the details on the "emergencies, diseases, injuries , cures thread, maybe someone there can figure out why this is happening.

What have you used to clean the incubator? Did you rinse really well? Maybe there is some residue/odor that is killing your birds.

 

[Duckopolis]

Good luck with your poultry raising adventures,and I hope you find everything you need to know. Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions! Glad to have you here! Good luck with your hatch. I'm not sure what the problem is, but try posting it in the chicken emergencies forum!