My chick died! What happened?

[hunthaven]

I had two baby chicks, Salt and Pepper, hatch six days ago. They seemed to be doing fine. Last night I changed their paper towels, water, and gave them fresh food. I vaccinated them for Marek's with 24 hours of hatch. Pepper seems to be doing fine, but this morning, Salt was dead.

The ONLY thing I could see that was unusual was her rear--a yellowish discharge (see photo) that reminded me of vent gleet, but I've never heard of such a thing in a chick. I've posted photos of her with the discharge AND the little poops on their paper toweling this morning.

Last night, I held both chicks and gently stroked their heads--I can't think of anything that was out of the ordinary, and she didn't act sick or droopy or lethargic. Can anyone help? I've never lost a chick before, and I don't want to lose another one if it can be prevented.

 

[Cadence A Waller]

I am so sorry about Salt. Could it be pasty butt? I have lost a couple of chicks because of that.

 

[hunthaven]

I have understood that pasty butt is regular poop getting dried out and sticking. This was not ordinary poop--it was yellow, gooey stuff. The thing that perplexes me is that she really hadn't been exposed to anything, except for a few minutes when I took them outside for pictures. But pasty butt is the first thing I thought of, too, and then I saw that yellow stuff . . . They were eating medicated chick starter, so it shouldn't be coccidiosis, either. The poop might have been yellow because she wasn't eating--and I hadn't been watching them enough to know if she wasn't eating properly. I clean their brooder 2x a day, and everything was always a mess, but no noticeable diarrhea . . .

 

[Saaniya]

I had two baby chicks, Salt and Pepper, hatch six days ago. They seemed to be doing fine. Last night I changed their paper towels, water, and gave them fresh food. I vaccinated them for Marek's with 24 hours of hatch. Pepper seems to be doing fine, but this morning, Salt was dead.

The ONLY thing I could see that was unusual was her rear--a yellowish discharge (see photo) that reminded me of vent gleet, but I've never heard of such a thing in a chick. I've posted photos of her with the discharge AND the little poops on their paper toweling this morning.

Last night, I held both chicks and gently stroked their heads--I can't think of anything that was out of the ordinary, and she didn't act sick or droopy or lethargic. Can anyone help? I've never lost a chick before, and I don't want to lose another one if it can be prevented.

View attachment 1671954

This tiny age can't get vent gleey but possibly a pasty butt that block the vent and kill
But sometimes vaccine also tough on heart and body how much u gave ?


How's peppers keep monitoring and noticing the acting also keep checking the vent

 

[Cadence A Waller]

I have understood that pasty butt is regular poop getting dried out and sticking. This was not ordinary poop--it was yellow, gooey stuff. The thing that perplexes me is that she really hadn't been exposed to anything, except for a few minutes when I took them outside for pictures. But pasty butt is the first thing I thought of, too, and then I saw that yellow stuff . . . They were eating medicated chick starter, so it shouldn't be coccidiosis, either. The poop might have been yellow because she wasn't eating--and I hadn't been watching them enough to know if she wasn't eating properly. I clean their brooder 2x a day, and everything was always a mess, but no noticeable diarrhea . . .

Hmmm... I’m stumped. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.

 

[hunthaven]

I know that birds can poop yellow and green when they're not eating . . . and I wonder if she never really ate anything. She was six days old, and she could have lived the first three days on the yolk, then starved right before my eyes. Maybe I'm off base, but I'm wondering . . . Her brooder mate eats and poops fine.

 

[Al Capon]

I know that birds can poop yellow and green when they're not eating . . . and I wonder if she never really ate anything. She was six days old, and she could have lived the first three days on the yolk, then starved right before my eyes. Maybe I'm off base, but I'm wondering . . . Her brooder mate eats and poops fine.

That's what I was thinking as well. I had a pullet that made it to 7 months but was slowly starving to death. Her poop was full of that white stuff. I didn't know then what I know now, have been told that that's chicken bile. A sign she wasn't getting food which made sense in my situation.

Some chicks hatch with problems they'll never recover from. Perhaps that's what happened in your situation.

 

[hunthaven]

I know I would RATHER it be that than something infectious—i’ve Lost 7 birds to marek’s this year, and i’m Super careful about germs, etc. Or at least I’m trying to be. Thanks for your input.

 

[chickens really]

Animals eliminate at death..Sorry it passed. Bad heart...

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I am so sorry about the loss of your sweet chick! Bear hugs!