Very sudden death

[Cupcakus]

We are raising 15 chicks a big brooder in our garage. Ages range from 2 weeks to 4 weeks. We noticed last night one of our 4wk old australorps was sleeping too long and not moving much, she seemed fine that morning. I could nudge her to walk a bit but she would lie right back down. Her vent was clean, feathers looked good, breathing normally, no chirping. We were going to rush to pick up some coccidiosis medicine this morning, but unfortunately she didn't make it to the morning.

I am kind of at a loss here, I didn't think coccidiosis could kill so fast? I do not know what her poop looked like, but the poop in the brooder all looks pretty normal. The rest of the chicks are happy as can be it seems to me.

The garage has been around 80 to 90 degrees all week, we are having a heat wave here, I don't think that's a issue though, they still sleep around the heat lamp.

My current plan is just to treat all the survivors for coccidiosis even though I'm not seeing any symptoms. It's a shock to lose such an old chick so quickly.

 

[DuckPro]

How old is chick?
Did you hatch them/buy them?
Pale face?

@aart might be able to help.

 

[Cupcakus]

She was 4wks old
We bought them
Other than lethargy she looked normal, although I will admit I'm not sure what pale face looks like.

 

[DuckPro]

@aart could help or @KikisGirls

If you bought them they could have not been vaccinated/wormed etc.. and have you been cleaning their place/coop enough?

 

[DuckPro]

Symptoms and Diagnosis. Outward signs of coccidiosis in chickens include droopiness and listlessness, loss of appetite, loss of yellow color in shanks, palecombs and wattles, ruffled, unthrifty feathers, huddling or acting chilled, blood or mucus in the feces, diarrhea, dehydration, and even death. Does your chick look like this?

 

[Wickedchicken6]

She was 4wks old
We bought them
Other than lethargy she looked normal, although I will admit I'm not sure what pale face looks like.

Were they with other chicken...possibly outside? I've had coccidiosis kill very quickly.

 

[Kiki]

Cocci kills fast and so does the heat.
I would not still have a heat lamp with your temperatures being 90.

 

[Cupcakus]

They have only been in the brooder with the other chicks, they've never been in contact with other chickens or outdoors. We pick up the poop every couple of days, they do poop in the food and water and we clean out both as soon as we notice. We can't put the food or water higher because we have real young ones, 1wk and they wouldn't be able to reach.

I am certain they have not been vaccinated or wormed.

 

[Cupcakus]

Cocci kills fast and so does the heat.
I would not still have a heat lamp with your temperatures being 90.

The brooder is quite large, they can get away from the lamp entirely if they want, and they do. But I see them lie under or around it too, despite the warm temps, so I leave it on.

 

[Kiki]

Cocci like the warm so I am going to bet that it was Cocci that killed.
I still wound't have the heat on though...my personal opinion.

I've seen way too many people on here think that chicks need to be kept at 90 for a month..it's simply not true.