My chicks are still dying...

[BlackDogPack]

This is making me sick. I can't stop them from dying.

On the 18th I received 48 Ameraucana chicks from a hatchery, 22 Light Brahmas from someone local along with 6 games and 11 mixs.

I have now lost 22 of the Ameraucana's. I can't get weight on them, although they seem to eat/drink. I lost 2 of the Brahmas and 3 mixs (one of which because I took it to the research lab). Separated the Ameraucana's from my others and now just the Ameraucana's are dying off.

So the conclusion was - weak chicks (for whatever reason: shipment, weather, food) let the coccidia parasites take over which in turn let Salmonella/E. Coli take over.

None of the chicks look healthy. I don't know what else to do. I really think I'm going to loose them all. I called the hatchery they came from and he said he would be happy to give me a credit and to call him back and let him know how many I loose total, I wasn't looking for a credit but I thought they should know in case it was some handling on their end. It's clear it was from the first 12-24 hours - I am thinking during shipment something happened.

Some have normal poos, some are tarry looking. No blood in anyones. They are light as feathers and not growing, unlike the others who are growing like weeds. Even the bantam mix's are as big as the Ameraucanas.

I feel helpless. I'm done chick raising for awhile. I was hoping the Corid would show some improvement - but I lost 4 last night. I am wondering if I caught it to late and the problem has gone to far to fix. It looks like maybe a couple of the birds actually have weight on them. Otherwise, they are just so... unhealthy.

 

[Eggcessive]

How long were they traveling from the hatchery and how cold was the weather along the way? I spoke with a local man who had ordered chicks from the same well-known national hatchery for 20 years and never lost a chick, but this Feb. lost 21 out of 30 chicks which were stuck overnight in Chicago when the airport was closed for a snowstorm. They were very cold stressed.

 

[SycolinWoodsChickens]

Sorry to hear about your babies.

Last year we purchased 5 different breeds. One breed all died at the hatchery and they never shipped us any and another breed died one by one after we got them home.
Sometimes I think they have a bad hatch for some reason and the babies start out weak and shipping just makes it worse.

Good luck with your babies.

 

[rungirl]

Do you have them on medicated starter feed? Also, is the brooder kept clean and dry with fresh wood shavings? A little sugar in the water for the first day or two should help perk them up when you first get them.

At this point, though, I would get some Corid and treat them for coccidiosis to try to save the rest.

Lisa

 

[carolinasculpture]

So sorry about your chicks! If there is no blood, I'd try worming them before getting the corid. If they have worms it would be reasonable that they would not gain weight and be sickly. Good luck!

 

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

.

 

[rungirl]

JMHO, but I don't think 10 day old chicks are likely to have worms yet, especially if they have been inside a brooder the whole time. Coccidiosis is the mostly likely/commom issue with new chicks. I'd give the Corid a chance to work. You don't always have bloody poop as a symptom. There are something like... I don't know... 38 strains of coccidiosis I think. Anyway, it attacks the lining of the digestive system and they won't be able to gain weight or absorb nutrients, resulting in weakness. There is always a chance that there is a secondary infection, so if you could give them an antibiotic in addition to the Corid, it would be a good idea also.

Lisa

 

[chickbea]

Oh, dear. It sounds like you are doing all the logical things.
Given that you say the chicks you got locally are doing well, my first thought is that there is either something genetically wrong with the hatchery chicks and they are failing to thrive, or something traumatic occurred during early life/shipping and they just aren't able to overcome it.
I'm so sorry. Hopefully some of them make it.

 

[BlackDogPack]

Quote:
From OH to NC. The weather was nice here, but not sure about along the way. The guy from the hatchery just said it could have occurred during shipment but said nothing else about it. I need to call the feed store and ask if others have had problems, they had about 100 more on top of what I ordered.

Yes they are on medicated feed, have save-a-chick in the water and now are on Corid. They have been kept warm and dry and I have not seen them huddle under or out of the heat. I had shavings, then went to paper towels to monitor their poop and now I have small mesh that I can keep clean the easiest. The brooder is a nice one, 4 foot by 3 foot or so and metal body with venting on the top. They have never been in drafts/rain/etc. All have plenty of space for food, water and warmth.

My vet is going to prescribe them an antibiotic tomorrow, he said in addition to what I am already doing.

It's crazy to pick up the Ameraucanas then any of the other chicks. And they have all been on the same food, water, bedding, etc from day 1.

I do not think it is worms because they are so young, and because the vet I would imagine would have seen that during the necropsy.

 

[LeezyBeezy]

Oh, how heartbreaking! It does seem a bit odd that it's all one breed. Good luck.