WHAT AM I DOING WRONG??????

[cowboyclayt]

I just had another chick die while I was holding it!

WHAT AM I DOING WRONG! I am feeding medicated feed, the temperature is perfect, and they are getting medicated water. (nutri drench, probiotics, and electrolytes) Does anybody have ANY idea what I am doing wrong? I dont want this to happen again.

I started off with 16, a couple died, the hatchery shipped me 6 more, I am now at 7 chicks.

Let me know if you need more info.

 

[junebuggena]

Picture of your brooder setup? Is the whole brooder the 'perfect' temp? Do they have a cool zone so they cool down if needed? How are you keeping them warm?

 

[ethieandco]

I am so sorry to hear that! Which feed are you using? You said medicated, is there a reason?
What is the observed behavior before they die? Are they laying still with their mouth open, panting? Are they chirping loudly?

 

[cowboyclayt]

I am using Purina. I am giving them the medicated feed because they had coccidiosis. They don't anymore though. I know some of them chirp loudly, but I am not sure if the ones that are loud are the ones that die. They are not panting. They gasp for breath before they die though. They will lay still before they die and sometimes they cant walk. (Like the one I just observed this morning

)

 

[junebuggena]

A picture of your setup would really help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A picture of your setup would really help.

X2 Photos will be very helpful

@cowboyclayt I was scanning your previously started threads and it seems you been having some problems, I'm so sorry.

If you can give us more information, photos/video, we will be happy to try to help you figure out what is going on.

Can you tell us exactly how old the chicks are?

Are you still using a water nipple system? If so, are the chicks drinking from that - do you see them drinking?

You mention that they had Cocci - how did you treat? If you are relying on medicated chick starter to treat an outbreak of Cocci, that will not work. Medicated chick starter is a "preventative" that slowly allows a chick build immunity. For an outbreak or overload you would need to treat with Corid.

What type of bedding are you using - first I saw pine chips, then hay that had been stored a while (possibly moldy), then pine shavings(?)

Also how are they housed - how is the brooder set up, how big is it and what temperature is it?

This is my thoughts. If they were mine, I would buy a new bag of pine shavings. Clean out the brooder and start fresh. If the chicks are not drinking from the nipple system, do away with that and offer plain clean fresh water in a chick waterer. Dip each chicks beak in the water and let them drink. Depending on how old the chicks are, adjust the temperature to approx 85-90F - making one spot in the brooder that warm - let the rest of the brooder be cool. Make chick starter available free choice and add some chick grit free choice as well.

I can't stress how important it is for the chicks to drink water. Dehydration kills quickly.


Keep us posted.

 

[cowboyclayt]

Here isn't a picture of the brooder.
Wyorp Rock, I have some that are 2 weeks old and some that are 1 week old.
I am still using the nipple water system and they are drinking out of it.
I did use corrid to treat cocci.
I am using pine chips.
The temp is approx. 90*.

 

[junebuggena]

Water and feed should be as far from the heat as possible. The water is too close and probably getting warmed by the lamp. Drinking water is one way chicks utilize to cool down. Warm water makes it more difficult for them to rid themselves of excess heat. What is the temp at the furthest point from the heat lamp? And feed should be available at all times.

 

[cowboyclayt]

Water and feed should be as far from the heat as possible. The water is too close and probably getting warmed by the lamp. Drinking water is one way chicks utilize to cool down. Warm water makes it more difficult for them to rid themselves of excess heat. What is the temp at the furthest point from the heat lamp? And feed should be available at all times. 

I will do that! It is about 70* at the fathest place from the lamp.

 

[junebuggena]

Might want to trim down that cardboard a bit more so it's not so enclosed and holding in too much heat. They don't need to be completely enclosed like that. You just need a few inches to keep the shavings from going everywhere.