Multiple chicks sick/dead, 5 days old

[HanLo]

Five day old chicks dying one by one. 5/6 so far out of 15. Seem fine then become lethargic, get a glazed look, wobbly on their legs, refuse to eat/drink, then die. At least one seemed to be struggling to breathe with mouth opening and closing. Only one had pasty butt and we have been looking out for it so it doesn’t seem related. Temperature is fine, brooders worked fine for around 50 chicks last year. They’re not all the same breed as each other. Shipped Monday and I think got to my parents place Wednesday. Were very chirpy and angry at first but settled down. Any ideas of what it might be, how to treat and possibly save the rest? Google says coccidiosis is more common when older and my parents haven’t noticed any bloody stool. First to die lasted 15-24 hours from first symptoms. Second was 5-12 hrs. Third died less than 10 hours. Didn’t seem sick and woke up to it dead. Fourth is still hanging on but will probably be gone by morning. Fifth took about 10 hours from first signs noon today. Sixth is still alive but worse off than #4. Probably not going to make it through the night. They weren’t all sick at the same time.

They have electrolytes and probiotics. And appropriate food and heat.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Where did you get them from? How long were they on the shipping route?

 

[HanLo]

Where did you get them from? How long were they on the shipping route?

Ohio. Born at 5 am Monday. Got here 10:30 Wednesday. No heat pack. Wasn’t a great situation because shipping was saying they weren’t going to arrive til Friday :/ All went well the first day. First to get sick looked dead the next morning but wasn’t and was babied all day with electrolytes/probiotic and water.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Iowa. Born at 5 am Monday. Got here 10:30 Wednesday. No heat pack. Wasn’t a great situation because shipping was saying they weren’t going to arrive til Friday :/ All went well the first day. First to get sick looked dead the next morning but wasn’t and was babied all day with electrolytes/probiotic and water.

Chicks usually aren't sent with a heat pack unless its really cold. I would contact the company to get a refund on any chicks that died, you usually have a day or so.
do you have them on cedar shavings?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like shipping stress. About all you can do is to check daily for and remove any pasty butt droppings, and get them drinking well. The electrolytes are fine, or you could get some Poultry NutriDrench and give them each a drop or two,them dip beaks into the water. Moisten some chick feed or give a little egg yolk to eat. I assume you have them under a heat source. Hopefully, you won’t lose more, but it sounds like you had a bad batch of shipped chicks. Sorry for your loss.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I am not a fan of shavings!

 

[HanLo]

Chicks usually aren't sent with a heat pack unless its really cold. I would contact the company to get a refund on any chicks that died, you usually have a day or so.
do you have them on cedar shavings?

They are on pine.

 

[HanLo]

It sounds like shipping stress. About all you can do is to check daily for and remove any pasty butt droppings, and get them drinking well. The electrolytes are fine, or you could get some Poultry NutriDrench and give them each a drop or two,them dip beaks into the water. Moisten some chick feed or give a little egg yolk to eat. I assume you have them under a heat source. Hopefully, you won’t lose more, but it sounds like you had a bad batch of shipped chicks. Sorry for your loss.

Should they still be getting sick at this point if it was shipping stress? We have another one falling ill today. They eat fine until they get tired and wobbly. (Lack of balance). They just sway back and forth til they can’t stand anymore.

 

[HanLo]

Most everything done so far:

- They’re in a new rural town so the water may be different from prior batches. Switched them now to the berkey water filter parents use

- bought new chick feed and new probiotics and new bedding and new electrolytes

- swapped out the container they were staying in

- They’re under the K&H style brooders. The pic is of the sick ones and they still have a warm rice pack to keep them warm while we try and get them to eat/drink.

The first chick starter was bought Monday night at D&B and it wasn’t very old. They were fed the chick starter gel that was sent with them as well which it said to give them within 6 hours. I don’t know if any of those were contaminated but if they were, they’re replaced now.

 

[Araucana Nest]

Can anything be scaring them at night? Where is the brooder? I hope changing all the feed, bedding, etc. helps. When you give water make sure it is not cold. I offer warm water until they are about 10 days old (and they are also kept inside the house).