Mass Chick Death- WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED???

[PirateGirl]

Have you made any changes to the sea can since the birds started living inside? Birds are very sensitive to fumes. The paint, the spray insulation, welding, anything at all that you have done to improve the structure since they have moved in?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I don't know for sure what your problem is, but one time we fed some feed to our custom raised pheasants that was left over. Apparently the feed was bad. It killed 50 pheasants chicks overnight. The feed looked fine but when I smelled it, it smelled gross. Not all of the 300 died just the 50.

 

[wild chick]

Following this, just because I want to know the answer if it's ever found! I always thought those containers were the perfect answers because they are built to be completely airtight and especially rodent proof. Adding doors and windows changes that, but the OP's photos look like they've done a good job on that as well. Under the floor is metal as well, right?
So sorry for your loss, hoping you find an answer.

 

[Stephine]

It sounds like it could possibly have been a weasel, but you seem certain that there’s no way for one to get in. Too bad you can’t inspect for broken necks.
Next I would suspect moldy feed (not all of them would have eaten from the same spot, so that would explain why some are just fine. Unless this mold induces some crazy, overactive behavior though, I wouldn’t think that they would scatter all over the place to die...
So that leaves the loud noise from the roof. That could absolutely put them in a panic. If they were able to flee their pens, (they tend to pile up, but could they have been pushed through the bars, too?) they could find themselves unable to find their way back in and get cold. You turned off the additional heatlamps, which likely cooled down the whole shed. If the noise continued on and off, they would have kept getting too scared to figure out a way back. They would get into nooks and crannies trying to keep warm.
That seems the most likely to me right now. Or it could be both mold poisoning and loosing access to the heat.
If it was me, I would definitely line the cages with cardboard so no one can get out and of course triple check that the doors are properly closed, change the feed and feeder/waterer arrangement and take away the metal things from the roof.
So sorry!

 

[Eggcessive]

Is there any ventilation inside the can coop? What is the temperature inside? Recently someone posted about their Premier 1 heat plate had apparently burned some of their chicks’ shoulders. When they looked at the website, apparently there was a remedy for sale. That shouldn’t have killed them though.

 

[WestCoast Farm]

No changes were made to the sea can since a year ago, well before any chicks were put in.

But I’ve been having issues with condensation creating some mold.

I’m in Canada. We do have weasels, probably pine martens and my dogs say rat activity underneath. Hubby says there are NO WAY there are holes through the steel to get inside. Under yes- inside, no.

Cats do jump on the

roof from the hayloft.

Here are pics from today showing the front and ventilation system. Rear window is always open a hair and cannot be budged. Has a screen over it too which was intact.

All remaining chicks are perfectly happy & healthy. I’ve had cocci before. No signs of any illness. They were either stone cold dead & rigored, or alive and well.

Breeds are mixed heritage hatched from my flocks: Barnevelder, Orpington, Legbar, Isbar etc. We practice strict bio security here.

I tend my chick barn first with clean footwear, disinfect my hands etc. No signs of any illness in my flocks. Chicks were never outdoors exposed to anything.

Only ominous signs were moldy areas in the feed dish where nipple waterer dribbled & nipple waterers were a bit gross inside with algae at the bottoms.

Ventilation system was not taking care of condensation perfectly when it was -0 recently but it has since been spring like temps.

 

[WestCoast Farm]

Following this, just because I want to know the answer if it's ever found! I always thought those containers were the perfect answers because they are built to be completely airtight and especially rodent proof. Adding doors and windows changes that, but the OP's photos look like they've done a good job on that as well. Under the floor is metal as well, right?
So sorry for your loss, hoping you find an answer.

Yes it’s been the perfect barn for us. Under the floor is intact steel. This can had no rust holes or punctures. Floor & walls have 2x4 framing, spray foam insulation and new plywood with no gaps.

We’ve added windows, doors and a ventilation fan. As hubby says, no way for anything to get in / out except through the door.

I searched the whole thing in case a weasel or rat was hiding in there. Nothing. No signs.

 

[Cyprus]

No changes were made to the sea can since a year ago, well before any chicks were put in.

But I’ve been having issues with condensation creating some mold.

I’m in Canada. We do have weasels, probably pine martens and my dogs say rat activity underneath. Hubby says there are NO WAY there are holes through the steel to get inside. Under yes- inside, no.

Cats do jump on the View attachment 1714002 View attachment 1714003 roof from the hayloft.

Here are pics from today showing the front and ventilation system. Rear window is always open a hair and cannot be budged. Has a screen over it too which was intact.

All remaining chicks are perfectly happy & healthy. I’ve had cocci before. No signs of any illness. They were either stone cold dead & rigored, or alive and well.

Breeds are mixed heritage hatched from my flocks: Barnevelder, Orpington, Legbar, Isbar etc. We practice strict bio security here.

I tend my chick barn first with clean footwear, disinfect my hands etc. No signs of any illness in my flocks. Chicks were never outdoors exposed to anything.

Only ominous signs were moldy areas in the feed dish where nipple waterer dribbled & nipple waterers were a bit gross inside with algae at the bottoms.

Ventilation system was not taking care of condensation perfectly when it was -0 recently but it has since been spring like temps.

View attachment 1714002View attachment 1714003

Is that a gap at the bottom of the window pane?

 

[WestCoast Farm]

Here’s the structure, from built to now.

 

[WestCoast Farm]

Is that a gap at the bottom of the window pane?

No gaps more than a hair. We made this completely predator proof.