Monday I enlarged my brooder for my chicks - they were 24 days old. I removed the soiled pine shreddings and replaced it with a new bag of large pine flakes. I took the brooder lamp out because its been so warm downstairs (unconditioned) that it was impossible to get the temperature under the lamp around 85. Then yesterday it rained all day and the temperatures dropped into the high 70's midday. They were active, a little puffed up, but normal so I didn't plug it back in - it was 72 in there when I went to bed at 10. This morning they were piled up together in a corner, so I plugged the lamp back in. At lunch they were no longer huddling in corners and acting normal. Then after work I found one dead and flat-ish in the corner they had been huddled in this morning. No blood or visible injuries. Now I'm wondering if it could be something contagious. A few still look a little puffed up and a lot are sleeping - which may be normal but now I'm paranoid. The were vaccinated for Maercks and Cocci at the hatchery, so I don't give them medicated feed. What do I do now?
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