South Carolina

[Cpntherfan]

Lost my first chick today and not sure what happened. I did change bedding Monday - went from fine to flake shavings. And I took their lamp away Monday because its been so warm outaide, but the temps fell yesterday and they seemed fine so I didn't plug it back in. Then this AM they were all huddled up in a corner, so I plugged it back in and separated them. At lunch they were all spread out and normal. Then after work one was dead and flat-ish in a corner. No obvious injuries or strange behavior. Should I have Clemson do a necropsy? Or am I over reacting (like my BF keeps saying)? I had them treated for cocci & marecks at the hatchery, so I don't give medicated feed. Any have any experience w/Clemson's lab?

its always terrible, I lost my self blue hen today.

 

[EggieRowe]

I'm sorry for your loss. Do you know what happened? I lost another Delaware chick this evening. I'm treating for coccidiosis and hoping no more died overnight. Treating myself w/a strong nightcap so I don't get up half the night checking on them.

 

[EggieRowe]

In case the need ever arises, the doctors at the Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Lab are helpful. Called this morning to see what they thought was wrong and if I should consider a necropsy. Doctor said I'm overcrowding them and its probably coccidiosis from the vaccine. Never expected to get 28 chicks, let alone expect them all to survive to 3 weeks. I figured they were good with about 1 sq ft until I put them in the coop in next week. Also told me that I probably shouldn't have had them vaccinated for Marek's either since I didn't have an existing problem. Now I've turned them all into potential carriers. Starting to wonder if I've done anything right at this point. And sick chick #3 just died in my desk drawer. She told me to give the Corid 2-3 days to work, and if it doesn't I should bring a live sick bird to them for necropsy. Seems like I'm losing one every 6 hours, at that rate I'll lose half before then. Sorry if I'm being annoying - everyone here thinks I'm taking this too hard. "They're just birds." "You were going to process them eventually anyway."

 

[Avonshire]

You know I use to think they were just birds until I had some! It is hard to not get attached and any time an animal dies on your watch it is hard to take. Makes you feel helpless. I hope they are able to help you if the meds don't work. I will say I have not medicated or vaccinated any of my birds. I did not even know I should. Hugs and I hope they stop dying on you!

Cpnthrfan--I am sorry you lost your self blue. What happened? Was it a baby?

 

[Patsy29332]

In case the need ever arises, the doctors at the Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Lab are helpful. Called this morning to see what they thought was wrong and if I should consider a necropsy. Doctor said I'm overcrowding them and its probably coccidiosis from the vaccine. Never expected to get 28 chicks, let alone expect them all to survive to 3 weeks. I figured they were good with about 1 sq ft until I put them in the coop in next week. Also told me that I probably shouldn't have had them vaccinated for Marek's either since I didn't have an existing problem. Now I've turned them all into potential carriers. Starting to wonder if I've done anything right at this point. And sick chick #3 just died in my desk drawer. She told me to give the Corid 2-3 days to work, and if it doesn't I should bring a live sick bird to them for necropsy. Seems like I'm losing one every 6 hours, at that rate I'll lose half before then. Sorry if I'm being annoying - everyone here thinks I'm taking this too hard. "They're just birds." "You were going to process them eventually anyway."

Good to hear about Clemson being helpful. I haven't had a need to call them...yet. I am sorry you have that going on there!

Don't fret over remarks about chickens are just chickens! Some here work like that while others feel they are part of the family. Each person is different so each person must take their own approach. Myself, like you, become very attached to mine and do not want anything to happen to them. Others that treat them as "just chickens" do not want anything happening to theirs either. Maybe they were trying to console you in their way.

I have a couple questions I would like to ask so I might re-think and re-figure my spaces here before I get into an overcrouded situation not realizing it until sickness sets in here...I think I read you have 28 chicks? How old are they and what do you have them in? (how much space) And...did Clemson recommend anything as far as space is concerned for them at that age?

Thanks for the helpful info. And I am sorry for your losses and hope the corrid kicks in soon and stops the deaths!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

In case the need ever arises, the doctors at the Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Lab are helpful. Called this morning to see what they thought was wrong and if I should consider a necropsy. Doctor said I'm overcrowding them and its probably coccidiosis from the vaccine. Never expected to get 28 chicks, let alone expect them all to survive to 3 weeks. I figured they were good with about 1 sq ft until I put them in the coop in next week. Also told me that I probably shouldn't have had them vaccinated for Marek's either since I didn't have an existing problem. Now I've turned them all into potential carriers. Starting to wonder if I've done anything right at this point. And sick chick #3 just died in my desk drawer. She told me to give the Corid 2-3 days to work, and if it doesn't I should bring a live sick bird to them for necropsy. Seems like I'm losing one every 6 hours, at that rate I'll lose half before then. Sorry if I'm being annoying - everyone here thinks I'm taking this too hard. "They're just birds." "You were going to process them eventually anyway."

No, we don't think you are over reacting. And the Clemson agent is so right. I never vaccinate and have been stressing that for years. Natural immunity really is best. But you live and learn so don't be too hard on yourself. We all have to go through it some how or another. Never trust the person that says they do not have problems. It takes losses and hardships to teach us some things. Then we sit up and pay attention to other stuff so just think of it as your learning curve. it is hard and sorrowful but do-do happens.

Right now just concentrate on the ones that you need to work with and don't get frustrated. The next crisis will be easier to handle. You still have a long way to go to get all these raised and anything can happen. But gosh, once you hold them and pet them and love them you realize how worth it all these struggles were!

 

[EggieRowe]

The chicks are 24 days old today. The brooder is actually about 27 sq ft (6ft x 5ft, minus wall thickness). They had about 0.5 sq ft the first week, 0.75 the second, then about 1 sq ft around 3 weeks (Monday). They got roosts on Monday too to give them vertical room as well. I told the vet it was 4'x6' and she said that was too small, but never said how much room they needed. I double checked the size because it just didn't look small compared to brooders I've seen pictures of online. Plus I've changed their litter like 3 times since they arrived July 8th. They are going to their new coop & run next week, which is being built using the 4 & 10 sq ft ratios. I honestly thought they had plenty of space. One university website, UMN?, said they only need 0.5 sq ft each until they were 6 weeks old! That sounds crowded!

Thanks for all the support! I think everyone at home & work is trying to be supportive the best way they know how. This is a learning process and hopefully it will make a better caretaker out of me.

 

[leirob007]

Caught 3 cats and an 18 pound racoon so far. a long way away from the 60 some odd birds dead and gone.

leirob---oh no! Darn cats! I am sooo sorry! Do you have a dog--to run those cats off??? I am not sure what you do about cats--they are so wily and slippery!

 

[leirob007]

Wild domestic type cats. Living out of the dumpsters at the two restaurants next to me

Leirob- Wildcats or ferrell cats?

 

[Patsy29332]

The chicks are 24 days old today. The brooder is actually about 27 sq ft (6ft x 5ft, minus wall thickness). They had about 0.5 sq ft the first week, 0.75 the second, then about 1 sq ft around 3 weeks (Monday). They got roosts on Monday too to give them vertical room as well. I told the vet it was 4'x6' and she said that was too small, but never said how much room they needed. I double checked the size because it just didn't look small compared to brooders I've seen pictures of online. Plus I've changed their litter like 3 times since they arrived July 8th. They are going to their new coop & run next week, which is being built using the 4 & 10 sq ft ratios. I honestly thought they had plenty of space. One university website, UMN?, said they only need 0.5 sq ft each until they were 6 weeks old! That sounds crowded!

Thanks for all the support! I think everyone at home & work is trying to be supportive the best way they know how. This is a learning process and hopefully it will make a better caretaker out of me.

Seems like plenty of room to me for 3 week olds!!!...any musty or moldy smell to your shavings? I have heard that would be bad news. I use puppy papers in my brooder for that first month to 6 weeks but recently I am trying out using pine pellets (for horse stalls) and that seems to me working pretty good. They don't get the air as "dusty" and I can clean with a litter scoop or rake the top layer out with a dust pan...I just have to keep the water a little elevated because those pellets really "wick" the water up!!!!

Good luck and hopefully you can post the good news that all is well very soon!