Sudden death?

[Stormimay]

I had 18 chicks in a brooder together. I am down to 14 now. Over the last two weeks, I have woken up in the morning to find one flat and stretched out on the floor, dead. Each one seemed perfectly fine the night before. The fourth one was this morning, and she was still alive, but barely. I gave her some water with electrolytes and kept her warm, but she died quickly. The first two, who died about 4 days apart, were the two smallest, but the last two were the same size as all the others. They have enough water and food, and they don't seem too cold or hot. They are a little over two weeks old now, and have about 3 square feet in their brooder. Is it too small and they are getting trampled or smothered? They seem comfortable throughout the day. Is it possible they are sick and just have no symptoms I noticed till they lay down and then get trampled? Should I add antibiotics to their water now or is this just what happens sometimes with baby chicks? Thank you!

 

[troy4]

Its probiotics.You need feed starter for chicks clean the coop with bleach.Also,do you have any other animals or chickens?

 

[ConcreteThumb]

Do not clean with bleach. Ammonia and bleach (chlorine) combine to form chloride gas, which is toxic at worst and a mucus membrane irritant a worst (eyes, lungs, nose, mouth).

This is why you dont mix bleach with dish soap. Dish soap, and urine/feces, contain ammonia.

 

[troy4]

.It kills the bugs or germs that may have made them sick.

 

[ConcreteThumb]

Poultry litter contains uric acid. When exposed to moisture, air and microbiological degradation, the uric acid is converted to volatile ammonia that increases pH in poultry litter (near pH 8.5). As poultry litter dries, the pH becomes more neutral (near pH 7). The highest concentration of ammonia in a poultry house is experienced within a few inches above the litter surface where chicks are susceptible to its detrimental effects on eyes and lungs. Coupled with elevated relative humidity levels in houses and the high moisture contents of litter in houses cleaned after a previous flock, ammonia can have a devastating affect on the health of chicks. Most poultry losses occur soon after chicks are introduced to the houses because of respiratory tract damages or illnesses, such as pneumonia, that may result in death.

Source:http://www.litterlife.com/poultry-ammonia

http://chemistry.about.com/od/toxicchemicals/a/Mixing-Bleach-And-Ammonia.htm

 

[Wantaraisechick]

If your box is square the chicks could be smothering each other. They will pile into a corner and the one on the bottom will smother to death because the one on the bottom is trapped. Put a piece of cardboard in each corner so they can't get trapped in a corner. If they otherwise look healthy this could be your problem.

 

[Wantaraisechick]

Also, they may be getting a little cold at night and that may be making them pile up on each other to keep warm.

 

[Stormimay]

Thank y'all. I have cleaned the brooder with vingear and a lot of sunlight, and I put probiotics in their water. They aren't piling on each other and seem warm enough, I hope. They are a little over two weeks....I am tempted to put them outside in the sturdy tractor to stay...it is larger and the temperature never drops below 70 nowadays. They are probably too young for that though, yes? I guess I'll just cleane the brooder every day instead of every other day. I hope it helps. Thank you again!

 

[enola]

Three square feet is not nearly enough room for 14 two week old chicks. Do they have good ventilation?

 

[Stormimay]

There is no lid, so I hope there is enough ventilation. I have another smaller brooder. I guess I will set it up and put 6 of the chicks in there. I didn't mean to overcrowd them.