And in reply to what my setup is:
It's a very large dog crate with hardware cloth around the bottom half with partially expanded pine pellet bedding. Heat source is
Brinsea ecoglow brooder on middle height. I use an Ottlite bulb during the day to simulate daylight. Water is in a human food grade plastic bottle with one of Avian Aquamiser's waterer 'nipples.' Food is in a stainless steel dog bowl that everyone can reach. I really don't think feed is my particular issue because it is the same mixture I have been using for over a year now which consists (in no particular order) of shredded coconut, millet, sesame seed, einkorn, flax, nyjer, crushed raw pumpkin seed, quinoa, short grain brown rice, crushed sunflower seed, grit, and a tiny amount of DE.
I offer that free choice as well as sprouted wheat and rye. I also give raw ground beef and egg yolk a few times a week to ensure a quality source of protein.
I put blankets over the cage at night on three sides to guard against drafts since we do leave our windows open at night.
Oh, the water contains a vitamin supplement and a drop of oregano oil and ACV. I was adding garlic extract (new as of this year) but I stopped in case it was giving them anemia since it can do that with other animals.
My quarantine cage is much the same but the food dishes are jar lids and the heat source is a ceramic bulb.
So far the thing that made the biggest difference was removing the garlic extract from the water. Since then, the ruffled chicks have started looking a lot less ruffled.
Some of my bigger chicks that never had any symptoms are almost ready to be transitioned to full time outside life with the big flock. Until then, I do take everyone on outings outside when it's warm and sunny AND I'm home (which is less often than I'd like).
So it really beats me what the **** is going on with these babies.
