i currently have them all on esb-3 (anti cocci med) and added denagard to their water this morning (an antibiotic)
since this morning ive had no more deaths but one small bantam looks off.
since vaseline-ing all the fuzz butts yesterday ive seen no more 'pasty' butt / dirty bums.
ive scrubbed out the brooder this morning with bleach water and let it dry in the sun. ive taken away the woodshavings and put them back on newspaper so i can get a proper look at their poop.
ive also switched to medicated chick food (they were on non medicated)
IF i can save them id like to try, BUT if my main flock is at risk i will cull the chicks (in other words if i was sure it was salmonella id cull, but if its something treatable id like to save). ive emailed every single local vet today to ask if they can run tests for chickens, as of now ive had not a single reply.
the eggs were bought from another backyard chicken keeper, he breeds australorps and marans. ive had eggs, chickens and chicks from him before and never had a problem. he has a trio australorp and a trio marans, thats it just 6 healthy looking chickens. ive already been in touch with him over this and he is as devastated as me. But as i dont know what im dealing with i cant try and 'pin' the blame on anyone.
what worries me is the chicks that died over night were not from the original australorps that hatched last wednesday, it was another breed, so im guessing its something contagious?
actually i dont know what to think.
i have 3 sets of chicks in that room. one large brooder with heat lamp and 30-40 chicks (this is the brooder with the problem)
next to it i have a brooder with 6 x 4 week old chicks
next to that i have a brooder with 7 x 7 week old chicks......i lost one out of this broodera few days back ...related to these deaths? i dont know