Need advice on a chick

[Chrifister]

We recently received 60 broiler chicks. I believe he said they were Mighty Meats, which I believe are Cornish Cross. They all seem fine except for one.

He/She seems a bit more lethargic than the others but seems to be eating and drinking. Normal chirps when picked up. Quite noticeable on its rear end is a lack of down starting just above its vent to quite a ways past its umbilical cord scab. I noticed it because it looked wet around the edges. I first thought it was pasty butt. I took it into the house to clean up and it wasn't pasty butt, the vent is clear. The large dark chunk I saw is actually the umbilical cord scab I think. Very pronounced.

I've attached a picture. It looks dirtier today. I think some poop got smeared on there. Other than the missing down, it looked very clean. This is now day 3 and while it looks kind of nasty today, the chick seems fine.

I have no idea what it is. It looks like down is there but just wet? Does anybody know what is wrong with this chick?

 

[casportpony]

Very strange, can you post more pictures?

 

[Chrifister]

Update.

This morning it was still running around although it looked like it was trying to nap. I was thinking it was either dying or I just happened to check on them when it was getting ready to nap.

I went out at lunch time to take more pics for you guys and found it dead.

Day 4 and we are down 2 chicks. One died last night as I was changing the water and adding more feed. I was looking right at it when it was sleeping. It was napping and woke suddenly, looked like it was gasping, fell on its side, spasmed, and died. Happened very quickly.

When I was last out there I noticed another chick had a similar looking back side, but much smaller. I don't think there is an umbilical scab, but it looks wet back there. Strange. This chick looks fine too. Running around eating and drinking. Complained when I picked it up.

 

[iwltfum]

Looks like some kind of infection. Seems like your chicks maybe came with some kind of issue that they might have picked up at the feed store or the hatchery. I hope your other ones survive. Keep giving them clean water (possibly with electrolytes/vitamins/probiotics), the proper amount of heat, clean bedding and good quality food. Maybe use some antibiotic ointment if you see another one's vent area get like that.

 

[cassie]

This is just general information and it is unlikely to help in your present situation. I gave my Cornish X something called Broiler Booster. It is available from Murray McMurray and it is a vitamin mineral supplement formulated for meat chickens. You put it in the water. It really seems to help with the issues these chickens are prone to. That said, I have no idea what is wrong with your chickens and what, if anything, will help. You may have gotten a bad batch. When I ordered chicks, they all arrived active and healthy and I never saw anything like that. I have no idea what to tell you.