Over the last month I have lost my broody hen that was with her chicks and 3 of her babies. They just seem to be fine one afternoon and then dead the next. Yesterday I noticed one of the chicks was extremely lethargic and brought him home. One of his eyes was closed but he was still able to eat and drink. Throughout the night I continued to check on him and he seemed to be getting worse. This morning he has a clicking sound coming from him when he breathes. He entire mouth is covered in saliva/drool. His breathing is very shallow and he can not eat or drink. Someone tell me what's killing my babies please! They are about a month- two months old.
It is hard to say without more symptoms. Was your broody hen sick with a respiratory disease or was she a carrier of mycoplasma (CRD?) How long had you had her? Did she have diarrhea, or do the chicks? When chickens are ill, always check for mites and lice, check their crops for emptying by morning, look at stools, and consider worming. I doubt if worms are killing your chicks however. Other things such as rat poison or contaminated food can make them sick.
