Help. What is wrong with my chicks?

[ChickenCanoe]

So, my gut tells you that you are right about this. That they were carrying the disease and then the stress of transport made it active. So my question is this, if I get chicks from elsewhere, will they just catch it from mine and it’s pretty much hopeless?

They likely will if your birds are still sick.
You are supposed to quarantine new birds as long as possible, as far from your birds as possible. Even if your birds are cured, not quarantining can introduce another pathogen to your flock. Some people haven'd taken the precaution and continue to introduce disease and it becomes a vicious cycle.
Ideally quarantine should be 40 days and at least 50' from your flock. Then deal with your birds first and then the new birds, changing shoes and washing up between and after. I realize many don't have the means to separate that far but know that some pathogens can travel 1/4 mile or more through the air.

I definitely will. But will my current birds (if they live) be carriers for life and always infect new birds?

Unless you know the specific disease, no one can answer that. Birds will be lifelong carriers of some viruses and bacteria, others not.

 

[Pennys Mama]

Wait I may be wrong but I thought read heat lamps let off a toxic fume or something

https://petcentral.chewy.com/keep-your-pet-birds-warm-and-safe-this-winter/

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

I had one of my chicks do this to. it died about a day later, it was doing the rock back and forth thing. but never did really figure what was wrong with it.

I’m sorry that happened to you! It’s so sad.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

This is another option, and I'm sure the risk of fire is considerably less with the ceramic heat emitter. I have 2 of them that I use, just to keep the temp up a bit. I haven't tried to use them on newly hatched needing 95°, but just above some outside & above my hospital pen.View attachment 1954059

I’m going to look into these to have around in case. Thank you.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Just now catching up. Based on your desire to have more chicks, but not buy them, I guess I would get the chicks from the same breeder and give them the antibiotics like the veterinarian recommended. If you have another thermometer to use, you should use it to see if the one you are using in there is accurate. Heat is very important for the day olds.

Really this is a decision for you to make. You are doing so much better than I would with the sick and dying chicks. Those of us who free range, or semi free range, know we risk loss to predators.

I do think bringing them into the house might help. Do you have a spare bathroom or a laundry room to keep them in? Of course then you would have to keep them safe from any cats and dogs you have.

I think I’m going to try brooding the next group in our basement. The dog occupies the laundry room and honestly it’s the toddler I’m most worried about. I didn’t want them in the basement because we are trying to eliminate mice down there and I feel like the feed will attract them but I’ll make it work. Then they will be away from my current group for quarantine. I wouldn’t go get them until the 16th so that gives me over a week to see what happens with my 4.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

And toddlers lol

Yep this lol

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

They likely will if your birds are still sick.
You are supposed to quarantine new birds as long as possible, as far from your birds as possible. Even if your birds are cured, not quarantining can introduce another pathogen to your flock. Some people haven'd taken the precaution and continue to introduce disease and it becomes a vicious cycle.
Ideally quarantine should be 40 days and at least 50' from your flock. Then deal with your birds first and then the new birds, changing shoes and washing up between and after. I realize many don't have the means to separate that far but know that some pathogens can travel 1/4 mile or more through the air.

Unless you know the specific disease, no one can answer that. Birds will be lifelong carriers of some viruses and bacteria, others not.

Yep that all makes sense. Working on my quarantine plan now.

 

[ValerieJ]

I think I’m going to try brooding the next group in our basement. The dog occupies the laundry room and honestly it’s the toddler I’m most worried about. I didn’t want them in the basement because we are trying to eliminate mice down there and I feel like the feed will attract them but I’ll make it work. Then they will be away from my current group for quarantine. I wouldn’t go get them until the 16th so that gives me over a week to see what happens with my 4.

That makes sense. I would be concerned about the mice, so I would have the chicks in a mouse proof set up with thee food inside.

 

[ValerieJ]

For example a tote with hardware cloth across the top.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

For example a tote with hardware cloth across the top.

My brooder looks pretty mouse proof yeah? Once the sick ones are healthy, I’ll be moving them into a set up in that dog kennel/run thing you can see in the pic above and keeping the workshop warm enough for them. They will be 5 weeks on sat so I was planning on around 70 degrees. Then I’ll bleach/disinfect this brooder like crazy for the next group.