Help strange illness killing chicks.......

[jbolt]

Ok az, I am stumped.....about 2 weeks ago I hatched out a batch of eggs. Some were local, a few we're some trader joes fertile eggs, and some of my own backyard mixes. I had 30 chicks hatch. All but 1 late one thrived, and were doing fine. 2 days ago 2 chicks were gasping for air. Their crops were empty, and 15 minutes after I noticed them gasping, the flopped around violently and died. The same happened with one this morning. All other chicks seem fine. No gasping, eating and drinking well, and clean butts, no diarrhea . I am stumped. These were not weak chicks. They were not skinny, or lethargic. Temp was good in brooder, so I don't think it was heat related. I have another batch of eggs in the bator and am terrified that I have something dangerous happening here. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[bargain]

What is your temperature in your brooder?

 

[jbolt]

93 degrees

 

[jbolt]

These chicks that died were the fastest growing in the brood of barnyard mixes. I am so confused, as this seems like a sudden attack of something. I did notice that a nasty gopher has dug his way under the brooder cage though, I thought that he was just stealing food though. Could that be a cause? I also was thinking fowl pox? Nobody in my flock has lesions, but the chicks were very gurgle-ish when gasping. I have hesitated to do more than mix the remaining chicks some vitamin/electrolyte water as this does not seem like an infection because symptoms are soooo sudden. An hour at most from onset to death......

 

[Kdt1961]

Maybe a stretch, but sounds like symptons of poisoning. Is it possible that someone has put out gopher or rat poison? Gopher poison can come as coating on grains. Perhaps there is residual poison in the gopher poop that these chicks found and picked at? Maybe a long shot, but the flapping and violent death is strange.

 

[jbolt]

Hmm ill see if gramma has put anything strange out lately