Need Help, 3 out of 5 chicks passed already!!!!

[amynumchuck]

I got my baby silkie chicks this past sunday. They were all roughly 1 week old. Since then, 3 have died and it's weird because it seems to be going by order of size with the littlest dying first. I can't lose anymore! It seems that they are fine when I go to bed and when I wake up they're lethargic and limp, basically constantly asleep and by themselves. One of them kept flipping over on his back leading up to his passing. They do stir if I prod them a little but quickly fall back asleep. My remaining two seem healthy. They're eating and drinking and active. But that's how the others were before I woke up each morning and tried to help before they passed within 20 min. So here's the setup: They have no pasty butt, I've checked and I do not use a heat lamp, I use the Brinsea Ecoglow 20 so don't ask about temps, I know they're not too cold because I used a heat lamp the first few days before switching and two died before then. So they're definitely not chilling. They're on Manna Pro medicated chick starter crumbles (which is what the breeder used) and they have fresh water and water with probiotics and electrolytes. Please help, I love my silkie babies!!!!! I can't watch them die anymore. Is it a vitamin deficiency?

 

[amynumchuck]

Thank you all for your help!!! I'm taking every tip you guys have into consideration. As of this morning, I believe the issue to be cocci. I found a couple mucus-y/bloody-ish tint poops in their brooder and am glad that I started treatment yesterday with corid. I hope that this saves them! I just wish I could've saved the other 3 too

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you all for your help!!! I'm taking every tip you guys have into consideration. As of this morning, I believe the issue to be cocci. I found a couple mucus-y/bloody-ish tint poops in their brooder and am glad that I started treatment yesterday with corid. I hope that this saves them! I just wish I could've saved the other 3 too

Coccidiosis kills chicks fast. I'm sorry you lost the first three little ones.
Once you get through their Corid treatment, you may want to offer them probiotics to help their guts heal.
I have fed my birds fermented feed from the day they arrived from the hatchery so they get probiotics daily from their feed. It is not difficult and would help your 2 remaining chicks recover. I fermented their chick feed for three days before feeding it making sure it was nice a bubbly. Good luck to you.

 

[Wezdin]

Welcome to BYC! sorry to hear about your chicks Does their poop look bloody at all?

 

[AbigaelR]

Did you get them from a hatchery or a private seller? It almost sound neurological

 

[N F C]

I'm going to move your post over to the ER forum...best of luck with the remaining chicks.

 

[amynumchuck]

As an update, through some research I have taken them off the medicated food and replaced with non-medicated and am treating with corid to be on the safe side since the 3 that have died all have symptoms matching that. After I am done, can you guys recommend some ways to supplement all the vitamins that chicks need (going off the idea that this is the treatment they need to survive)? Is there a specific supplement to add to their water to ensure they get their vitamins? Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Perhaps your seller is able to shed light on the problem. Ask if he has dealt with the same.

 

[Kiki]

Coccidiosis is usually an easy fix if caught early enough.
I am glad you figured things out.

I would like to remind you to keep an eye out for it in all future chicks/chickens you bring home.

If you have a few minutes this link has a video worth watching.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coccidiosis-video-worth-watching.1262022/

 

[amynumchuck]

Welcome to BYC! sorry to hear about your chicks Does their poop look bloody at all?

I have not personally seen any bloody poop, but I also can't say 100% they haven't had any