lost 14 of 15 peachicks...can anyone help?

[EyeKeyYou]

First 6 weeks loss insuficient protein I suspect was your problem use 29% medicated gamebird turkey starter. Then mix 50/50 with chick starter to drop protein level so no leg problems eventually dropping to 21% by 3 months when move to ground. Move to wire after 2 weeks so not eating standing in poop. Worm with safeguard as soon as you move them to ground. Never had unexplained deaths in over 300 chicks doing it this way.

 

[Yoda]

First 6 weeks loss insuficient protein I suspect was your problem use 29% medicated gamebird turkey starter. Then mix 50/50 with chick starter to drop protein level so no leg problems eventually dropping to 21% by 3 months when move to ground. Move to wire after 2 weeks so not eating standing in poop. Worm with safeguard as soon as you move them to ground. Never had unexplained deaths in over 300 chicks doing it this way.

That was not the issue I use medicated chick starter and never had an issue like this with chicks. I never used hay as a substrate either. I use clean pine shavings for my chicks. Hay contains mold and I do not put mold in my brooders. I would suggest the problems came from the hay. When using hay you need to change the substrate a lot because the chick poop is wet and will help the mold grow. The chicks are stepping all over the mold and also eating it each time they peck at the hay. I always use fresh clean pine shavings and clean it often. A bundle of compressed clean pine shavings is about $6. Do NOT use cedar shavings, this will make your chicks sick or cause death.
29% protein is high, chicks should get only 20-22%

 

[casportpony]

I agree, lack of protein from chick starter is not what caused them to die. Many states offer a free or low cost necropsy service and I would suggest that everyone look into having them done for all fowl.

This has has some labs listed by state:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf


-Kathy

 

[zazouse]

I agree with Yoda and Kat weren't the feed.

 

[Tinaln]

This has happened to us the last two years! We ended up with only one chick making it to adulthood both years. Our hen has just started laying and we will try worming them regularly starting before hatching. Not sure what else to try. My husband was convinced that the adults were somehow responsible by maybe landing on them coming off their roosts and one was found where they sleep with the hen so he assumed she smothered it. I don't think either is the case. We do not brood them, they are mother raised.

 

[MinxFox]

Hi Tinaln I like to have my peahens raise peachicks too although this year I am not letting them do that.

Last year all of the chicks died. What happened was there was a lot of rain when the peachicks were little and while they would get under a shelter with their mom, the rain made them cold. I think all of the rain was too much for them and they couldn't find enough time to eat because they were busy shivering. I didn't realize they would die from all of the rain, but evidently from what my dad told me wild turkeys have a lot of chick deaths when it is a very wet year when the chicks are small.

Another issue I have found is if the peachicks can get through the fencing, I think the local hawks noticed this and ate ones that ventured out or something got them. It is good to have small fencing around the bottom of the fence so that the peachicks can't get out. My first peachicks never left the pen, but then the next time I had peahen raised peachicks they would venture out of the pen.

Once when I had peahen raised chicks, both peahens had several peachicks and in the end due to peachicks wandering out of the pen both peahens ended up having only one peachick each survive and the one that survived was normally the one that stuck very close to mom and didn't wander as much. For me I don't want to have peahens raise their own chicks again until there is smaller fencing and as for the rain I could probably put up a heat lamp or try something to keep them warm.

I have thought that maybe having an indoor area just for a peahen and her peachicks might be a good idea. That way they will all be safe and out of the elements and then when the peachicks are bigger and won't have issues with the rain you could let them out.

 

[casportpony]

This has happened to us the last two years! We ended up with only one chick making it to adulthood both years. Our hen has just started laying and we will try worming them regularly starting before hatching. Not sure what else to try. My husband was convinced that the adults were somehow responsible by maybe landing on them coming off their roosts and one was found where they sleep with the hen so he assumed she smothered it. I don't think either is the case. We do not brood them, they are mother raised.

Sorry for your losses.

Probably a good idea to stock up on Corid, Safeguard and metronidazole.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/804570/coping-with-blackhead

And if you lose any more, send it off for a necropsy.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
Michigan State University, 4125 Beaumont Rd, Ste 201H
Lansing, MI 48910 Phone 517-353-1683 Fax 517-432-5836
http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

-Kathy

 

[DylansMom]

This has happened to us the last two years! We ended up with only one chick making it to adulthood both years. Our hen has just started laying and we will try worming them regularly starting before hatching. Not sure what else to try. My husband was convinced that the adults were somehow responsible by maybe landing on them coming off their roosts and one was found where they sleep with the hen so he assumed she smothered it. I don't think either is the case. We do not brood them, they are mother raised.

Worming should be done before the breeding season as most wormers will render them sterile for a period of time. Get everyone on amprollium medicated chick starter (it wont hurt the adults to eat this for awhile and mom will be used to it when the chicks hatch) and get a medicine chest together. Corid or sulmet, safeguard cattle or goat drench, Tylan, and Fish zole for starters. You should also get some baby bird formula and syringes and tubes incase you do have to do a little tube feeding. I have seen mother hens step on and land on chicks, all were fine, and I've never seen one smothered by their mom, I think you have another issue and given the age I'd bet cocci. Symptoms of cocci and blackhead can be virtually identical, I tend to think cocci first because I've lost chicks to it in the past, but have never had blackhead here, casportpony above tends to think blackhead first because she has had past experience with that nasty little bugger, but I think if you cover both bases as well as worming them you will have a much better survival rate. I wish you much luck I know how it feels to lose them.

 

[Tinaln]

Hi Tinaln I like to have my peahens raise peachicks too although this year I am not letting them do that.

Last year all of the chicks died. What happened was there was a lot of rain when the peachicks were little and while they would get under a shelter with their mom, the rain made them cold. I think all of the rain was too much for them and they couldn't find enough time to eat because they were busy shivering. I didn't realize they would die from all of the rain, but evidently from what my dad told me wild turkeys have a lot of chick deaths when it is a very wet year when the chicks are small.

Another issue I have found is if the peachicks can get through the fencing, I think the local hawks noticed this and ate ones that ventured out or something got them. It is good to have small fencing around the bottom of the fence so that the peachicks can't get out. My first peachicks never left the pen, but then the next time I had peahen raised peachicks they would venture out of the pen.

Once when I had peahen raised chicks, both peahens had several peachicks and in the end due to peachicks wandering out of the pen both peahens ended up having only one peachick each survive and the one that survived was normally the one that stuck very close to mom and didn't wander as much. For me I don't want to have peahens raise their own chicks again until there is smaller fencing and as for the rain I could probably put up a heat lamp or try something to keep them warm.

I have thought that maybe having an indoor area just for a peahen and her peachicks might be a good idea. That way they will all be safe and out of the elements and then when the peachicks are bigger and won't have issues with the rain you could let them out.

Thanks for info. My pea chicks cannot get through the fence and they have an indoor coop. I think the medicine chest idea and worming is the best bet for now, better a little late than never.