Not any apparent symptoms: 2 left out of 7

[Muhammadsodiq]

I had 7 white bantam chicks but they suddenly started to die one by one now only 2 left. I went to local veterinar shop they thought it was simply old but it didn't help at all. Symptoms are messy feathers under them; they sometimes have abnormal poops but not always ; hair around eyes started to fall and really low appetite. They are all dying slowly, getting progressively worse. And they all died at night, during day hours they don't seem really sick. Sorry for not being able to describe situation properly, but i guess these images can help!

 

[Perris]

Welcome to BYC - sorry it's not under better circumstances.

It would appear to be something in the digestive system; there are quite a lot of potential candidates. The most likely candidate is probably coccidia, a very widespread parasite that is passed on via faeces. But that's just based on statistical likelihood, and to help us help you, please provide photos of normal and abnormal poop, and let us know:

1. how old are they (in weeks)? they look young.
2. what are you feeding them?
3. what are they drinking?
4. are they outside some of the time on ground/grass/other sort of natural environment? If yes, do other birds use the same ground?
5. where are you (bugs vary by location and climate)?
6. are there any other birds in the flock or are these chicks alone?
7. where did you get them? did you see the breeder's facilities?

 

[Perris]

how are the last 2 doing?

 

[Muhammadsodiq]

how are the last 2 doing?

They have great appetite, but almost not growing

 

[Muhammadsodiq]

Welcome to BYC - sorry it's not under better circumstances.

It would appear to be something in the digestive system; there are quite a lot of potential candidates. The most likely candidate is probably coccidia, a very widespread parasite that is passed on via faeces. But that's just based on statistical likelihood, and to help us help you, please provide photos of normal and abnormal poop, and let us know:

1. how old are they (in weeks)? they look young.
2. what are you feeding them?
3. what are they drinking?
4. are they outside some of the time on ground/grass/other sort of natural environment? If yes, do other birds use the same ground?
5. where are you (bugs vary by location and climate)?
6. are there any other birds in the flock or are these chicks alone?
7. where did you get them? did you see the breeder's facilities?

They look young, but they are already 3 month old, that's why I said they're not growing.
They are drinking artesian water around 18C°
They are with their mother and they have 2 other chicks, I don't know exact breed of them but they are regular chicks and they are way bigger than these two bu they are still smaller than they are supposed to be by now, apart from that they don't have any other symptoms in them.
I incubated them under broody hen and eggs were from my own hens and roosters.
They mainly feed on mixture of corn, sunflower seed,wheat.....

 

[Perris]

if their gut is damaged by whatever it is they're infected with, they will struggle to absorb the nutrients in the food they eat, hence have a large appetite but make little growth until they get better or die from starvation. I have had something similar in my flock.

In such circumstances I offer a variety of foods of different textures and let them eat whatever they want; they usually eat as many live mealworms as I offer (more than about 10 at a time is probably not a good idea), plus tinned sardines, milk-soaked bread, and take a little tomato and other fruit; they choose to eat very little grain or other hard food; I think there is a preference for easily digested foods, and their instincts direct them what to eat and what to avoid in order not to aggravate their digestive tract any more than it already is. A little natural plain yogurt now and then helps the good bacteria in their gut as well as them. I would avoid antibiotics, as they kill off more good bacteria than bad and can make the bird's health worse.