Question

[Tammy1]

I'm a new chick owner. I have 12 chicks, 6 Rhode Island Red and 6 Barred Rock, they are about a month old now. I checked on them last night all was well, food and water filled coop cleaned. This morning I woke up to one of the Rhode Island Reds passed. Any suggestions?

 

[Mads505]

What's the temperature? Has their behavior changed at all? What is their current setup?

 

[Tammy1]

They were all fine last night, very active. The Barred Rock are larger then the Rhode Island Red. They have a very large coop with a heating lamp with a red bulb and cooling area. Plenty of toys and a perch.

 

[Mads505]

They were all fine last night, very active. The Barred Rock are larger then the Rhode Island Red. They have a very large coop with a heating lamp with a red bulb and cooling area. Plenty of toys and a perch.

Are they outside? Was there any odd weather last night? Are they congregating more near the heat lamp or avoiding it at all?

 

[Tammy1]

They are inside still, they do both. Go under the heat lamp and in the cooling area

 

[Mads505]

Were there any candles near them last night? Cleaning sprays, air freshener, anything like that?

 

[Tammy1]

Were there any candles near them last night? Cleaning sprays, air freshener, anything like that?

No they are in a coop in my enclosed back porch. Nothing around but them. Im not sure if the larger ones attacked the smaller one, or if she died of sudden death syndrome.

 

[Mads505]

No they are in a coop in my enclosed back porch. Nothing around but them. Im not sure if the larger ones attacked the smaller one, or if she died of sudden death syndrome.

It's possible. I'll let someone with more experience chime in. I hope you get some answers!

 

[Tammy1]

It's possible. I'll let someone with more experience chime in. I hope you get some answers!

Thank you for your help

 

[Ridgerunner]

Unfortunately, when you deal with living animals you have to also deal with dead animals. The chick was a month old, that eliminates a lot of things. The others all appear healthy, so did this chick last night. I don't think this had anything to do with heat or cold. Not diet either, the others are fine.

Did you inspect the chick to see if it had been injured? What I'd look for would be a cut, puncture, or gash as it had been pecked, bitten, or clawed. Many critters like to attack the head so look there but check the vent area and entire body.

I consider poisoning but in your case I think that is extremely unlikely. There aren't that many bugs or such that would kill it even if it ate the bug, it might get sick but not die that quickly. The other chicks are fine. I'll mention poison because you are looking at them and I'm not, you might think of something, but I don't think this is the problem.

I've found a couple of hens dead in the coop or run for no apparent reason. No previous suffering or signs. I think they had an accident, probably broke their neck banging into something, maybe trying to get away from an amorous rooster or away from a pecking order fight. Chicks can sometimes get pretty active when playing in the brooder.

My guess is that the chick had a birth defect, maybe a faulty heart or such and had a heart attack or stroke. There is no way to know anything is wrong with them until they just fall over dead.

If something happens to another chick get back to us, a pattern suggests something is wrong. But if it is just one time I consider it bad luck.