Sudden chick death?

[trista85]

I apologize up front, I'm at work and am lacking specifics since my husband called and filled me in.
Last Saturday I impulsively bought 4 bantam chicks at Tractor Supply. I raised 8 last year with no problems, but they were ordered through my local feed store- I don't know if this makes a difference or not, since for all I know they could both use the same hatchery.

Anyway, everything has been going fine, all 4 were up and about when I left for work this morning. Husband called me a little bit ago and said that one looked like it was gasping for breath, so he picked it up and he said it just died in his hand. No pasty bum, we are vigilant about that,lol!

I'm feeding medicated chick starter, and putting save-a-chick in their water. Water is changed frequently, brooder is clean. They're in my house and under a heat lamp, so plenty warm and no humidity yet as I'm in Vermont.

What would cause one to just seemingly randomly die? Should I be concerned about the other 3? There aren't really any symptoms that I could see this morning.

I'm bummed, I know that sometimes they do just die but why?

Thanks

 

[EggSighted4Life]

No, you shouldn't be concerned about your others.

I hatch chicks... and sometimes they fail.

They may initially seem fine when they are thriving on yolk in their belly but at some point motility comes into play. Even without pasty butt if their system can't process and absorb nutrients, death happens. The body is a complicated system of networks. Any one thing not working and it throws it all out. Sometimes known as failure to thrive.

I have had chicks that are fine while on nutridrench and pass the next day after changing to plain water. Sometime they are pecking at feed but not actually connecting. And pasty butt can't happen if poo never passed in the first place. If I see a chick with an absolutely spotless bumm, I always get concerned for them first.

Save a chick is likely counter productive to the medicated feed which work to slow the growth of cocci by blocking thiamine (B1 I think) to starve the coccidia out which are in EVERY single chicken poo and only an issue when allowed to bloom out of control. If you get the save a chick mix off... it could cause death since it has electrolytes in it and balance is important. That isn't what I suspect here. Also don't supplement anything more than 10 days. Medicated with Amprolium... is much more useful if you are raising a very large brood where over crowding might be an issue. But it also won't cause a problem... noting that just because you use medicated doesn't mean coccidiosis won't happen. Some people still need to treat. With only 3 bantams, that probably won't be you.

If the passed chick is still covered I would return it. But I would NOT be worried about your other chicks since they cam from an NPIP hatchery.

Sorry for your loss.

Hope your other impulse THERAPY chicks thrive!

 

[trista85]

No, you shouldn't be concerned about your others.

I hatch chicks... and sometimes they fail.

They may initially seem fine when they are thriving on yolk in their belly but at some point motility comes into play. Even without pasty butt if their system can't process and absorb nutrients, death happens. The body is a complicated system of networks. Any one thing not working and it throws it all out. Sometimes known as failure to thrive.

I have had chicks that are fine while on nutridrench and pass the next day after changing to plain water. Sometime they are pecking at feed but not actually connecting. And pasty butt can't happen if poo never passed in the first place. If I see a chick with an absolutely spotless bumm, I always get concerned for them first.

Save a chick is likely counter productive to the medicated feed which work to slow the growth of cocci by blocking thiamine (B1 I think) to starve the coccidia out which are in EVERY single chicken poo and only an issue when allowed to bloom out of control. If you get the save a chick mix off... it could cause death since it has electrolytes in it and balance is important. That isn't what I suspect here. Also don't supplement anything more than 10 days. Medicated with Amprolium... is much more useful if you are raising a very large brood where over crowding might be an issue. But it also won't cause a problem... noting that just because you use medicated doesn't mean coccidiosis won't happen. Some people still need to treat. With only 3 bantams, that probably won't be you.

If the passed chick is still covered I would return it. But I would NOT be worried about your other chicks since they cam from an NPIP hatchery.

Sorry for your loss.

Hope your other impulse THERAPY chicks thrive!

Thank you!

 

[Alexismarie]

Just popping in to say hello fellow Vermonter! I am sorry for your loss.

 

[trista85]

Just popping in to say hello fellow Vermonter! I am sorry for your loss.

Hello!! And thanks My husband is all "its only a chicken"- but it was my baby! lol