Texas

[Brookshire11]

Ok i need help...
i just lost another ee that seemed ok last night. It started doing the same thing the Mille did before it passed: continually opening and closing its beak before its eyes stot open and it stretched out and passed. I need to know if this is a shipping/normal issue or if its something i can prevent.
I have a Barred chick on its way out as well..
this will make 5 that have died since arriving. Ive had them a little over 24 hours

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

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Hello Texas people! I am in need of some assistance! Recently I lost two of my birds leaving one all by her lonesome. My dog had opened my coop door and you can figure out the rest =/ I changed the lock on the door to one I actually have to unlock to get in there and made an enclosed run, so I am praying for no more problems. Trouble is now I am having a hard time finding older pullet/hens. She is probably about 8-9 months old, a lil phoenix hen, and she can be a little bossy so I know I can't try putting anything too young in with her. Anyone have any spare hens they are looking for a home for within an hour from Dallas, TX?

 

[Brookshire11]

Found this during midday butt checks.
Not a great picture but my "bully" EE has a bubble under her skin... I know this is something but I cant find the post...

 

[bnjrob]

Ok i need help...
i just lost another ee that seemed ok last night. It started doing the same thing the Mille did before it passed: continually opening and closing its beak before its eyes stot open and it stretched out and passed. I need to know if this is a shipping/normal issue or if its something i can prevent.
I have a Barred chick on its way out as well..
this will make 5 that have died since arriving. Ive had them a little over 24 hours

Most likely there is nothing you can do. They need food, water, and warmth, which you've given them. The stress of shipping can really do a number on chicks. Doesn't help that those jackasses at the post office screwed up. Even when you hatch your own, chicks, and adult chickens, can just keel over without warning. Birds are very good at hiding symptoms, otherwise they would be fair game for other birds to mess with them as well as predators. Just keep making sure that they are warm but not too warm, and encourage them to eat and drink by playing in their food and water.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Found this during midday butt checks.
Not a great picture but my "bully" EE has a bubble under her skin... I know this is something but I cant find the post...

So that is the back end of the chick?

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Came across this sweet story today about a silkie hen.

 

[Brookshire11]

So that is the back end of the chick?   

yes ma'am

 

[Brookshire11]

Most likely there is nothing you can do.  They need food, water, and warmth, which you've given them.  The stress of shipping can really do a number on chicks.  Doesn't help that those jackasses at the post office screwed up.  Even when you hatch your own, chicks, and adult chickens, can just keel over without warning.  Birds are very good at hiding symptoms, otherwise they would be fair game for other birds to mess with them as well as predators.   Just keep making sure that they are warm but not too warm, and encourage them to eat and drink by playing in their food and water.

Yeah, ill just keep up what im doing then.
came home after errands to the dead Barred Rock and another that seems on the weaker side.
I have 8 left out of 15...
I know this part will pass its just sad. Part of the deal but still sad

 

[jajeanpierre]

Yeah, ill just keep up what im doing then.
came home after errands to the dead Barred Rock and another that seems on the weaker side.
I have 8 left out of 15...
I know this part will pass its just sad. Part of the deal but still sad

I'm so sorry you are going through this. These are your first chickens, aren't they? This is not how it is supposed to happen.

Where did you order them from?

Usually, once you've gotten a chilled chick out of crisis, as long as they are kept nice and warm, draft free (and not mauled by kids, too), they just bounce right back. You can get into real trouble if you feed a shocky bird (maybe because it was injured from a predator attack) because the gut shuts down, but I don't think that would describe your chicks. Something else seems to be going on. My gut feeling is they picked up an infection at hatch from a contaminated hatching incubator.

Have you called the supplier?

While, I personally don't believe it is the Post Office's fault, I would be raising H*ll with them over how they were delivered. They don't need to know that they (the post office) might not be at fault. I think they treated your shipment abominably, and you should complain. I was called 15 minutes after the first employee ) arrived at the post office at 5:45 this morning. They gave them to me hours before they opened. It is normal practice for the post office to call you as soon as they arrive and they've scanned the package. Delivering them and leaving them on a porch is NOT normal handling of chicks. You should complain and to someone higher than just the top person in the facility. Complain to that person's boss.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Ok i need help...
i just lost another ee that seemed ok last night. It started doing the same thing the Mille did before it passed: continually opening and closing its beak before its eyes stot open and it stretched out and passed. I need to know if this is a shipping/normal issue or if its something i can prevent.
I have a Barred chick on its way out as well..
this will make 5 that have died since arriving. Ive had them a little over 24 hours

I forgot to add, that opening and closing the beak is a bird very, very close to death. If I were you, I would be taking some biosecurity measures with how and where these chicks are housed. I would not want to spread any of their dander or droppings in my house. So many losses from one shipment is really unusual. Make sure the supplier knows exactly what is going on.