lost another chick

[HSerChickLady]

So sorry for your losses. It is never easy.

We got three orders from Meyer last year, and lost 3 chicks of the same breed. They arrived the morning after they were shipped. The first died just 8 hours after arrival. The second the next day, and the final one on day 6. Meyer shipped replacements for the first two, but not the final one, but I did call them about the final death because it seemed like a problem with one breed batch. All other chicks in that order were healthy, and we have only lost one to egg peritonitis at age 6 1/2 months.

Of the second order, 3 weeks later, one of seven had pasty butt when it arrived (day after shipping again). We spent hours over 10 days on that chick, he turned out to be our roo for that order. He is a healthy rooster today. Without the diligence on our part he would have been a goner. All of that order are healthy today.

The final order was and still is healthy.

I believe that when a young chick dies of unknown causes it is often something related to the health of the parents, the incubation, and/or internal health, that on the surface is not evident.

Your care sound right on target. Good luck with the rest of your flock.

Our losses have all been from the same breeds except our Meal Maker that died in transit. I ordered 4 buff orpingtons and lost 3 within the 48 hour time frame. I also ordered 4 RIR's and lost 2 within the 48 hours and the 3rd was the one who died sunday night. These were all sickly or weak right out of the box. We've not lost a single one of our ameraucanas or barred rocks and they've all been pistols right out of the box.

 

[Primrose]

When I ordered this batch of chicks I didn't see an option for the vaccine and didn't think of it, sadly. Am assuming they aren't automatically vaxed?
Next time, if there is one, I'll make sure of it. Still waiting to hear back about the necropsy results on the two chicks we lost. One valuable lesson we learned, aside from the vaccine, is to never handle the chicks after being around the older hens in the outdoor coop.
So very much to learn....sometimes the hard way.

 

[HSerChickLady]

Yeah there is a lot to learn. I've been trying to be careful to wash my hands after doing anything at the coop for the big girls. Let me know what you find out when your necropsy results come back. I'm curious to know what happened.

 

[Kylling]

Believe it or not, I've actually had the same exact problem! Last year, we got a bunch of chicks, lots of Leghorns, Silkies, and other random breeds, from McMurry's Hatchery, I think it's called, and had more than half of them die.
One of them had the same symptoms as your little chickie---she was very lethargic, very sleepy, and she wouldn't move. Turns out she had heatstroke. Sadly, she died no more than a few hours after she had arrived. The others all seemed to go the same way. They were all healthy and happy, and then all of a sudden they were gone!

I don't know what to tell you... I can only share my own experience. :/ I just wish you luck with your chickens, and pray that no more die than should.

 

[tamzalicus]

Hi, This just about sounds like me 5 weeks ago but I had bought my 14 Baby's from a feed store. Well I could not find an answer to why they were dyeing( had 7 dye), I called my aunt In Arizona and told her what was going on. She used to breed birds. I told her and when it came to the heat lamp she asked what wattage the bulb was. Well at the Feed store they only had one size bulb for a heat lamp and it was 125..... I was cooking my babys!!!!!!! I got an 80 what light bulb to put in my brooder and used my electric thermometer to monitor the temp inside. She told me the new baby's don't let it get above 85 deg. when they stay on the side of the curtain not wanting to go back in decrease the bulb strength to 60 and just keep going down till they don't need bulb for heat. I have 7 of them left and they are doing great....

 

[chicks@feathers]

One other thing you need to watch about getting new chicks and feed is if you got the Vac when you done the order is that medicated food in the first ten days will work againts the Vac and the both will canceal each other out so for the first ten day feed them none medicated food if the recieved a vacunation when ordered know this is what my Vet told me so i consider it true

 

[gamechickens]

dosnt medicated chicken feed cancel or interfer with the mark vac. you should not have this many problems at all, try switching to non medicated. i know it sound weird by hard boiled eggs are great pick up for them and scrambled. what other type of fowl do you have on your farm and your neighbor or anyone who has come in contact with them. can be tranfered disease. also what are you housing them in and were. also your chicks may have worn i dont know about meyers at all but sound like they could an infested chicken passes worm to the chick when she lays the egg it is the egg as the chick grows and the chick would have no chance because he is lacking nutrience from well before he hatchs.

 

[chickensinwasillaAK]

Medicated feed only works on Cocci, has nothing to do with Mareks

 

[gamechickens]

ohh good to know i was not sure about the medicated feed. i only feed my chicks and chickens an unprossesed whole seed, whole grain andall natural vit/minerial feed that is specialty made for my chickens to order. they dont eat much of it because they are primarly grass fed.