Losing all our chicks from mail order. . . .

[*pixietrix*]

I am at a complete loss. We have had chickens for ten years and have never had this happen before. I've always either gotten our chicks from one of the local feed stores or had them specially ordered in from our feed store. I've also hatched some silkies from mail order eggs. This year, I decided to try ordering directly from one of the mail order companies. On Wednesday, we picked up 15 seemingly healthy chicks. As of this morning, we have lost seven. We lost one on Wednesday, two on Thursday, one on Friday, and then three yesterday. I have been fighting "pasty butt" on all of them, but other than that, no obvious signs of anything. They will literally be up and moving around acting completely normal, and then when we check on them a couple of hours later they are dead.

I'm using the same set up I have for the last ten years. They are in a large oval shaped stock tank. Temps are good (I've never even checked temps before this batch!), the chicks tend to lay around the edge of the lamp where I've read is where you want them to be. There's plenty of room in the tank for them to get away from the heat. They are eating and drinking and have Vital Pack in their water.

I am just sick over this. Any thoughts???

 

[pozees2]

Are you using medicated feed? Were the chicks vaccinated for anything by the hatchery? My first suspicion would be coccidiosis. If they were vaccinated for it then you should not use medicated feed.

If they were not vaccinated and you are not using medicated feed I would head to the feed store for Corid and begin treatment at once.

 

[hysop]

Where did you order from?
Sorry to hear about your loss

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Try ordering the Green Ball of Goop next time. I always do. It’s a little extra, but it gives them some calories and hydration on the way there and I think it makes them more likely to survive. I’m so sorry for your loss!

 

[*pixietrix*]

I don't believe they were vaccinated for anything. I just checked, and it doesn't appear our feed is medicated either (it's the same feed we've always used). Do I need to be medicating them with something?

 

[*pixietrix*]

Try ordering the Green Ball of Goop next time. I always do. It’s a little extra, but it gives them some calories and hydration on the way there and I think it makes them more likely to survive. I’m so sorry for your loss!

Is this GroGel?? If so, it was included in our order and it was given to them.

 

[pozees2]

I don't believe they were vaccinated for anything. I just checked, and it doesn't appear our feed is medicated either (it's the same feed we've always used). Do I need to be medicating them with something?

In this case I would medicate with Corid and stop using the chick vitamins while they are being treated. When young chicks just drop dead, it's almost always due to coccidiosis, which can be brought on by the stress of shipping and/or chilling, it isn't anything you or the hatchery did wrong. If you have a vet friend or nearby poultry friend with Sulmet or one of the other similar meds it will work faster and you will be more likely to save all the rest, but the only way to buy those meds now is with a prescription, Corid is still available over the counter. It is not an antibiotic, it prevents uptake of B vitamins which the cocci need to survive, that is why you want to stop the chick vitamins while you are treating for coccidiosis.

 

[chickens really]

Way too young to die from diseases or coccidiosis.
Did you dip everyone's beck in water and sprinkle the feed? Pasty butt can block the butt hole so they can't deficate properly.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Is this GroGel?? If so, it was included in our order and it was given to them.

Yes, that’s what it is. Couldn’t think of the name.

 

[Molpet]

What brand of chick starter dunmor is on recall
Is the light bulb shatterproof , they are coated with teflon and give off poisonous gas