Need help quickly. Day old and 2 day old chicks in trouble

[oregonkat]

Ok good chicken people, I have a bad problem. I woke this morning to find my previously healthy flock of 1 and 2 day old chicks sick. Some unable to stand up, some behaving like they are drunk and one with her wings outstretched and eyes closed. What is this?

 

[Wezdin]

What heat is their brooder at? I would get them some electrolytes in their water, helps to give them a boost.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok good chicken people, I have a bad problem. I woke this morning to find my previously healthy flock of 1 and 2 day old chicks sick. Some unable to stand up, some behaving like they are drunk and one with her wings outstretched and eyes closed. What is this?

Photos of brooder and chicks?
How hot in the brooder?

What is your heat source - lamp, heating pad, heat plate?
IF Lamp, where did the bulb come from, have you used it successfully before?

 

[oregonkat]

Same set up I have used before, but not in about 18 months. They have a heat pad on medium which is on all the time and a white light lamp which was not on all night. I have just noticed that none of them seem to be pooping. The 2 day olds are faring better than the chicks born yesterday but they are behaving just like they are all staggering drunk. One day old is very, very listless and I have her separated out with me. Cocci?

 

[oregonkat]

Unmedicated feed. I got the organic feed which I have used before with success, could that be the problem? They have Nutri drench in the water.

 

[coach723]

Is the white light lamp bulb new or one you have used before? Some bulbs are coated and give off toxic fumes that can be fatal quickly to chicks, it is safest to use only those that are labeled for poultry. They're not old enough for coccidiosis yet. Does the feed smell off at all, look off at all? If you did not empty the bag into another container I would suggest doing so and checking the entire contents for anything that looks spoiled. It does sound like something toxic at this point. Also using a thermometer to get the actual temp under the lamp and on the pad would be good.

 

[oregonkat]

The bulb is one I have used before.
I put a clean towel down just now to check for pooping and one or two seem to be pooping but it sure doesnt look like the amount 14 chicks should be producing. I dont see signs of poopy butt, at least not yet.
Temp at the chick level is 80degs. now but I have lifted the lamp higher from them.
2 chicks, both day old are very sick and I have now separated them from the others but the rest are still behaving oddly.

 

[oregonkat]

Is the white light lamp bulb new or one you have used before? Some bulbs are coated and give off toxic fumes that can be fatal quickly to chicks, it is safest to use only those that are labeled for poultry. They're not old enough for coccidiosis yet. Does the feed smell off at all, look off at all? If you did not empty the bag into another container I would suggest doing so and checking the entire contents for anything that looks spoiled. It does sound like something toxic at this point. Also using a thermometer to get the actual temp under the lamp and on the pad would be good.

I checked the feed, dumped the entire contents out and it looks and smells fine. Is it possible that the nutridrench is no good? I'm using a bottle from 2 years ago. I dumped out the water and just replaced it with fresh plain water.
I've given the two sickest a few drops of very diluted molasses with warm water for an energy boost

 

[coach723]

Temp at chick level should be 95 degrees for 1 and 2 day olds. You reduce by 5 degrees per week until it's at ambient temp. Nutridrench is a possibility.

 

[oregonkat]

Temp at chick level should be 95 degrees for 1 and 2 day olds. You reduce by 5 degrees per week until it's at ambient temp. Nutridrench is a possibility.

Thank you. The temp would probably have been another 10 degs higher before I lifted the lamp. Yesterday when they came out of the incubator, they were all behaving normally and not showing signs of temperature distress in either direction. It was only first thing this morning when I noticed that there was trouble.