I hope someone has some answers that could help me! I have a group of silkies, Copper Maran, Pumpkin Hulsey Game Fowl, Cochins and I believe a couple Delaware Giants that I hatched from eggs about three weeks ago. They were all doing splendidly - active, funny and just being chickies. I had one Pumpkin Hulsey chick that about four days ago just started having drooping wings, puffing out its feathers and acting lethargic - it died later that day. Then a couple days later one of my Splash Blue Marans (Oh sooo pretty) did the same thing along with breathing very softly but acting like it was difficult. Later that evening another Pumpkin Hulsey did the same thing and they both passed. Now this morning I have another one doing the same thing. I'm very upset about loosing these cuties. All were starting to feather out, have pine bedding (which I do know they will sometimes eat and have impacted in their bodies). Fresh water twice a day since they are really drinking, a lamp is still on them for heat, plenty of room for movement, fresh chick crumbles, etc. No one plays with them except my husband or myself as all our children are grown. Mostly we just handle them very little at this stage to make sure they get human interaction.
The ill chickies do not have fecal matter on their vents when I check them. They don't want water and seem to just appreciate being held and just "droop" for an appropriate term I suppose.
I cleaned out their area, and found some ammonia smell from where they like to congregate and sleep - I usually clean and add additional shavings every other day.
Any help would be great as I have some Blue Jersey Giants, Delaware Giants and Gold Laced Wyandottes that I have hatched at about two weeks old that need to be moved in with them but I don't want the older ones dying and or giving whatever they have to the new babies. BTW, I have five incubators going with Silver Phoenix, Salmon Favorelles, Anconas, Silkies, Sumatras, Cubalayas other chickens and several kinds of ducks and geese. Trying to do my part to help some of these breeds. I have lots of room for coops and everything they'll need once we transfer them. Also, we have Barred Rocks and Buff Orpington mixes outside that we have no problems with.
Anyway, I don't want to lose anymore chicks so if someone could help me out that would be great. BTW, no nodules, no growths, no blood, no pecking, no bloody fecal matter, no scratching. just drooping, fluffing, breathing hard and then dying a couple hours later.
Thanks to anyone who can help!
The ill chickies do not have fecal matter on their vents when I check them. They don't want water and seem to just appreciate being held and just "droop" for an appropriate term I suppose.
I cleaned out their area, and found some ammonia smell from where they like to congregate and sleep - I usually clean and add additional shavings every other day.
Any help would be great as I have some Blue Jersey Giants, Delaware Giants and Gold Laced Wyandottes that I have hatched at about two weeks old that need to be moved in with them but I don't want the older ones dying and or giving whatever they have to the new babies. BTW, I have five incubators going with Silver Phoenix, Salmon Favorelles, Anconas, Silkies, Sumatras, Cubalayas other chickens and several kinds of ducks and geese. Trying to do my part to help some of these breeds. I have lots of room for coops and everything they'll need once we transfer them. Also, we have Barred Rocks and Buff Orpington mixes outside that we have no problems with.
Anyway, I don't want to lose anymore chicks so if someone could help me out that would be great. BTW, no nodules, no growths, no blood, no pecking, no bloody fecal matter, no scratching. just drooping, fluffing, breathing hard and then dying a couple hours later.
Thanks to anyone who can help!