Meat Chicks Arrived Yesterday :(

[jaku]

My advice is to ignore everyone and just ride it out. Short of taking a bird to the vet for a necropsy, it's impossible to diagnose why they're dying, just by a description. If you try a bunch of home remedies, you may make the problem worse. I'm having a horrible season also. I've lost about 20 of my original 80 birds- I've NEVER had losses like this. So rest assured, it isn't normal- don't give up on Cornish X's yet. Some hatcheries are better than others with making this right. I called Townline and they told me that my birds probably had Cocci, and the guy talked to me like I was crazy for not medicating my birds. After I answered all of his questions, he said that lack of medicated feed/water was probably causing the problem. I asked him how it would be possible for my birds to get Cocci in a clean indoor brooder, with only HIS birds, in the first two weeks of life, when my only other birds (some layers and turkeys,) were purchased from HIS hatchery and are doing fine. He had no answer. I'm very disappointed in Townline Hatchery right now. I called when I only had 15 dead, and I would have been happy with 15 more at half price, but they said no. I told them these birds were different, that I was experienced in raising broilers, and I had always been happy with their birds in the past. Apparently they'd rather make a customer who buys a couple hundred birds per year unhappy, as opposed to taking a $12 loss on a few half price replacement chicks. I was surprised, considering McMurray gave me a full credit on the 6 birds I lost TOTAL my first year raising broilers, which means it was probably my fault!

 

[Dogfish]

I have also been adding electrolyte/vitamins to my waterers.

 

[aclee]

ordered from MMM...I didn't have these kinds of losses at all. Didn't lose any till I lost the runt at about a week...I bought one packet of the powder electrolite/vitamen stuff and I added it to their water a little heavier than suggested till the packet was gone. I'm guessing that was for about 4 weeks. Mine are healthy little (basketball shaped) suckers and I'm letting them go till 10 weeks cause we are not seeing any health problems at all so far and they are 8 weeks now. I think getting them a good start with the vitamins etc really helps!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Just ride it out.... keep them warm... and keep their bellies full.


Some batches I lose none.... and others I lose 15 or 20. This is out of 200. If you want to follow anyones advice the electrolytes are not a bad idea. I don't use them but they may help.

It really depends on the hatchery and because you got them from the feed store they probably will not replace any of them for you.


Jaku-

Are you still raising yours on wire? Did you lose that many on wire? If that's the case it wasn't from Coccidiosis.... they have to be exposed to feces. However if you kept them on wire for about 1-2 weeks then put them on a solid floor you more than likely did get cocci. Broilers immune systems are horrible compared to layers... I have not the slightest clue why but that's just the way it is. Naturally they should build an immunity to cocci in the brooder and once they hit pasture they should be well on their way. Either way, that's ridiculous that Townline will not make it right, especially for a repeat customer. I've been through about 6 different hatcheries since I've started with my broilers and I've left them for various reasons... customer service is one of those reasons. I hate being just another number to these hatcheries, I order a few thousand a year and to some of these hatcheries that's pennies on the dollar. I'm using Shlecht Hatchery this year and I'm impressed, I know Townline is local and within driving distance but I had the same issue with some of the hatcheries in Ohio... sure it was nice picking up my order. I know how I treat my customers and just expect the same of the places I buy from, especially when I'm doing thousands of dollars of business with them on a yearly basis. For instance, feed mill employees.... all know me by first name and treat me great. I buy them bagels, donuts, and coffee every now and then to keep that relationship good. Same with the Tractor Supply people... I'm in there at least 3 times a week... Some of these hatcheries forget what got them to where they are today.... like McMurray or Meyers. They get to big and rush people in and off the phone and try to blame everyone else for chicks dying days after they arrive. It's all about making more money.... even if it is losing a repeat customer...

 

[uhuh555]

We have bought 1500 cornish x from Townline so far this year and only lost 2. Last year out of 3000 lost 1. We do not use any sort of medication or anti-coccidosis drugs. Diseases can be brought into you flock on your shoes, cloths and even your hands or by visitors. The best defense against these problems is a good digestive health, most medications kill off the healthy flora in the digestive tract; even anti-coccidosis drugs reduce the helpful bacteria causing them to become dependant on it for their lives. When pre & probiotics are use within a day or two of hatching they prevent cocci from developing harmful numbers that could kill them. Small populations of cocci help the chick to develop immunity against them naturally.

What is so great about this forum is the diversity of information and experiences within its members. Thus, allows newcomers to get many viewpoints to contemplate their course of action thereby solving a problem within their comfort zone and abilities.

Good Luck

 

[cluckcluck42]

2 more dead today, bringing the total dead to 10. We are down to 89 since they only gave us 99. I am going to call the feed store first thing on Monday regardless if they will help me or not. Besides not feeding them electrolytes (will get some on Monday) I don't see what I have done wrong, so I can only assume most of you guys are right when you say it is a problem with the birds themselves. I will try to take it to heart that this doesn't always happen and I may give the breed another chance later in the summer but it's really tempting to just get a nice big dual purpose bird. Our RIRx EE roo's are really big and they are a little over 3 months old. I'd really like to breed meat chicks myself and not ever have to worry about this kind of loss again. 10% loss already and who knows if this is it.

 

[cluckcluck42]

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I'm sorry to hear about your losses, but it does comfort me to know I am not alone. Surprising that your hatchery did not assist you- you're right, is it really worth it to potentially lose a customer over a few bucks?? Our chicks were only 1.23 so I don't even really care if we get a refund, I just can't believe this many have died already and I want some kind of answer, see if maybe other people are saying the same things. Who know if the feed store will tell me, maybe. I knew going into this there would be losses, I expected some losses when they are older. Of course it's better to have them die early if they are weak before we put lots of food into them but it's pretty sad. Watching them have heartattacks was not a good experience. Poor things.

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I'm so sorry to hear that.

How many birds did you start off with??

Quote:
Thanks for sharing your experience, it really does make me feel better to know that this stuff happens and I am not alone. Next time I may order directly from a hatchery for the very reason that the feed store probably won't lift a finger to help. I think I read about you raising your own meat birds, is that correct? What bird do you raise? I think next years I would like to start raising our own meat birds, just not sure which breed.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Woops double post.

 

[Bossroo]

Smell your feed, spring time is the most likely time for mold to start to grow due to high humidity in the feed and you not noticing it. If it doesn't smell fresh, don't feed it. If it has some lumps in it toss it. Last week a friend had 3 out of their 4 horses become ill after eating some not so fresh feed grain and had to be treated by the Vet.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Total dead today is 16, leaving us with 75 chicks. I am somewhat flabbergasted. 3 of those seem to be our fault, we have a little wooden platform under one of the lights and today there were two chicks sleeping under it, I checked them and they were comfy and ticked off to be bothered so I left them. Came back and they were both dead and we found another dead at the other side. They may have had heartattacks under there but maybe they smothered (I don't even know how, they were half in and half under the platform). 25% loss in two days seem huge. Could any illness kill this quick? Cocci, or mareks???