UPDATE: Possibly bad feed. HELP! Chicks are 18 days old, slowly dying

[Missouri Chicken Chick]

The wood chips aren't cedar, and I have used this same brand with previous chicks without any trouble. I am thinking that whatever it is, it is most likely viral and the chicks that are thriving have obviously built up a resistance to it already. In doing lots of reading tonight, if that's the case, once the carnage is over, hopefully the birds that make it will be fine and it shouldn't spread to anything else I have. Just in case, however, I will be FULLY disinfecting everything prior to using any of the same housing, waterers, feeders, etc. It sounds as though it's probably out of my hands and it unfortunately just needs to run its course. It's just hard to watch and deal with... I am hoping this is the first and last time I have to deal with such a thing.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

What kind of heat do you have and where is it located?
Do you realize that miners used to use canaries to identify carbon monoxide and methane because the birds were supersensitive to the air? Plus, I think carbon monoxide is heavier than air and would be worse closer to the floor. If you have anything but electric heat, I would definitely have the furnace checked.

 

[debilorrah]

they'reHISchickens :

What kind of heat do you have and where is it located?
Do you realize that miners used to use canaries to identify carbon monoxide and methane because the birds were supersensitive to the air? Plus, I think carbon monoxide is heavier than air and would be worse closer to the floor. If you have anything but electric heat, I would definitely have the furnace checked.

This is true! I immediately thought of CM because of the lethargy and then death.​

 

[Missouri Chicken Chick]

The basement is actually a walkout basement with a large glass door in the section where they stay, as well as two windows, so they get a lot of natural light and it's well ventilated.

As far as the temperature, they don't huddle up as though they are cold. The light is at one end of the cage so they can get very warm or move to the other side of the cage where it's cooler. The temperature in the tub I had them in until yesterday was 90 at one end and 80 at the other. I just went down to check the thermometer and it's sitting right at 85 degrees on the end where the light is and the chick "pile" of sleeping chicks went from right next to the edge where it's warmer, all the way to the middle of the cage where it's approximately 79 degrees.

As far as water, it sits in the center of the cage, which means it is warm water and I always use warm water when I fill up the waterer.

Doesn't chick starter have grit in it? If not, maybe that's something I need to look at because I have never actually "added" grit to my chick feed. It is medicated chick starter that is mixed at my local feed store. I believe it has oyster in it, but I guess it's something I should check into tomorrow. I do have separate grit for my hens, but it is quite large. Maybe I should grind some of it up and give it to the chicks?

 

[Missouri Chicken Chick]

As far as heat, I use space heaters upstairs and the room they are in is not heated by anything other than sunshine coming in the sliding glass door during the day. At night the temperature in the room stays around 68 to 70 degrees, but inside the cage it's always warm due to the heat lamp. I actually have a carbon monoxide detector down there and have tested it to make sure it's working and it has never gone off.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Chick food does not have grit in it. However, they shouldn't need chick grit unless you are feeding them something other than chick crumbles. If you feed treats that require "teeth" then you will need to add chick grit in a separate dish so that can take it as they need it.

 

[Missouri Chicken Chick]

Yay Chicks, thanks for the information. I have some grit, so just in case I will go ahead and put some in the there for them. I know it can't hurt, so we'll see what happens. The feed I get is classified as "chick starter" at my local feed store. It's the same thing I have used for over a year and never added grit, but I am going to go ahead and put a small dish in the cage for them.

 

[brahmapapa]

A question, did the dieoff begin before you gave them the eggs tainted with wormer? the reason some may be dieing and others not may be the quantities of egg each bird is eating. Tte behavior prior to dieing sounds like poisoning. The wormer might be building up in thier systems until it reaches toxic levels. I do hope you figure this one out and hope you don't lose any more of your peeps. Good Luck

 

[CapricornFarm]

Have you considered Coccidiosis? There's a good article about it in poultry magazine mar/apr. Issue. They suggest treatment with amprol/corid liquid , 2tsp per gallon of water for7 days. Skip 21 days ,then treat with sulfadimethoxine, 1oz per 2 gallons of water for5 days. Then skip 21 days and start over. Do the birds seem skinny with droopy wings? They list classic symptoms as droopy ,ruffled feathers and sleepiness. Good luck...Deb

 

[artathart]

They make chick grit which is much smaller. And I wouldnt suggest allowing it to be all alone because they can fill up on grit. Because its shiny.