Sick Baby Chicks--don't know what to do...help?

[purdue777]

Hubby brought home six new baby chicks last week--2 Rhode Island Red and 3 Brahmas. Put them in a cage with slightly older baby chicks, by about three weeks. They are under a heat lamp, have regular cleaning of the cage and plenty food and water. Today when I went out there, one of the Brahmas was dead on the floor of the cage, and one of the Rhode Island Red babies is all in a corner with closed eyes, not eating or drinking. The other Brahma baby is also off in a corner, with eyes closed, not eating or drinking. Of the new ones, only one RIR and one Brahma is left. Any ideas of what is wrong with them? This is the first time I have ever had any sick baby chickens. I was very angry that my husband brought the new ones home and put them in with the older ones. Waiting eagerly for an answer! Thanks.

 

[purdue777]

Sick baby chickens. Need advice as to what is wrong. Is there any hope of saving them once they exhibit symptoms of closed eyes & head in corner? Need an answer ASAP.

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Any signs of pasty butt? Have they been eating and drinking? Are they warm enough? Brooder for first week 90 to 95

 

[Eggcessive]

The problem with mixing different age chicks is that the heat in the brooder may be a different temperatures—it needs to be warmer for the new chicks and cooler for the older. The older ones can hurt the younger, and the older ones can expose them to coccidiosis.

I would give all the weak chicks Poultry NutriDrench a few drops orally, and get them drinking. Dip beaks often. You can also use water with a tsp of sugar, or some pedialyte or gatorade in a pinch. Check for pasty butts, and clean off if needed. They may be suffering from shipping stress or a bad hatch, so you may or may not be able to save them.