lethargic and dying 11 week olds

[Sugar Sand Farm]

We have lost two polish 11 week old chicks in the past two days. They are not showing any signs of illness at all. no respiratory problems no crop problems no diarreha. They seem very lethargic and are not eating much. Usually I have to fill their feeder two times a day but yesterday and today they hardly ate anything at all. They are drinking their water though. When the first two died they were fine in the morning and dead when I went to check on them in the afternoon. They were showing no signs at all as today is the first I noticed how lethargic they seem. The only thing that has changed is the scratch we give them. DH did bring home the wrong chick starter yesterday but that was when I noticed they were not eating I blamed it on that and sent him to buy the Nutrena they are used to. But that hasn't helped they are still not eating much. Anybody got any ideas. I would appreciate any help you can offer. We are over 50 miles from a vet that will treat farm animals and over 250 miles jfrom an avarian vet. Help

 

[pkeeler]

My Polish chick started getting very lethargic around 9 weeks old. It was always sleeping in the strangest places. I then noticed its crest feathers were covering its eyes. I cut the feathers around the eyes and voila, the bird was up and acting normal again. I think it constantly thought it was night time.

 

[dlhunicorn]

stop the scratch. How long have you been adding scratch to their normal portions (and what are you feeding them incl did you feed med starter )

 

[pkeeler]

My Polish chick started getting very lethargic around 9 weeks old. It was always sleeping in the strangest places. I then noticed its crest feathers were covering its eyes. I cut the feathers around the eyes and voila, the bird was up and acting normal again. I think it constantly thought it was night time.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

dlhunicorn: We are feeding Nutrena medicated chick starter It has a protien level of 18. We only give them a handful of scratch in the evenings. There were twenty five chicks in the run so they didnt get much Could they be constipated I noticed today there wasnt much poo in the house

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Thanks pkeeler I have already trimmed their heads. Also its not just Polish in the run I have cochins,and orpingtons in there as well.

 

[mtnhomechick]

I was told to take them off chick starter at 6 weeks. They were having real dark runny poo. I put them on grower and they were fine in a day. Hope this helps and good luck.