What could this be?

[Jawad]

Hi. 10-week old indigenous chicks were fine and active. Then suddenly they became lethargic. Their droppings would continuously be purely water, with maybe a little mucous sometimes. Sometimes they would spit out a few drops of water. They would stay put with eyes closed during the day, drinking a lot but barely eating. One of them could barely walk and it was cold to the touch. However, at sunset it felt warm. The very next morning a number of them were dead. Perhaps they died during the night. What could be the reason?

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm so sorry! That's terrible...

It could be any number of things: they ate something toxic, coccidiosis, some other infectious disease.

Did you notice any other symptoms? Any congestion? Any paralysis? Anything solid in the droppings? That might give you a clue?

 

[CluckerFamily]

What do you feed them?
Are you using a heat lamp or heating plate?

 

[Aapomp831]

What do you mean, indigenous? I know what word means, but in this context? Are they wild chickens or something, or am I an idiot....

 

[Aunt Angus]

What do you mean, indigenous? I know what word means, but in this context? Are they wild chickens or something, or am I an idiot....

I took it to mean "wild" or "land race" chickens. I am wondering if OP is from somewhere other than the US. We don't often run into wild chickens here, unless they are dumped.

 

[Jawad]

I put chicken mash in their feeder several times during the day. They are free to roam a huge garden the entire day.
Indigenous: not wild but pure local chickens with their original genes I'm in East Africa. The chickens look the same as chickens do.

 

[Aapomp831]

I put chicken mash in their feeder several times during the day. They are free to roam a huge garden the entire day.
Indigenous: not wild but pure local chickens with their original genes I'm in East Africa. The chickens look the same as chickens do.

Gotcha Thanks for the clarification

 

[Jawad]

They are 10 weeks old and it's quite hot so they don't need a heat lamp.
Of the remaining ones, their voices seem weaker than usual. They have bouts where they run about and look fine and then periods where they are too weak to even stand, let alone walk - pale, puffed up with eyes firmly closed. Really puzzling. There is kind of a wheezing sound when some breathe. One who yesterday was very sick looks better.

 

[Aunt Angus]

They are 10 weeks old and it's quite hot so they don't need a heat lamp.
Of the remaining ones, their voices seem weaker than usual. They have bouts where they run about and look fine and then periods where they are too weak to even stand, let alone walk - pale, puffed up with eyes firmly closed. Really puzzling. There is kind of a wheezing sound when some breathe. One who yesterday was very sick looks better.

I would love to see pictures of your indigenous chickens!

I don't know what might be wrong. If they are weak and making wheezing noises, it is probably a respiratory disease. Those are highly contagious and very hard to treat. I don't know what you have available locally, but antibiotics might be needed. They are sometimes hard to get here because of laws here regulating meds.

 

[CluckerFamily]

They are 10 weeks old and it's quite hot so they don't need a heat lamp.
Of the remaining ones, their voices seem weaker than usual. They have bouts where they run about and look fine and then periods where they are too weak to even stand, let alone walk - pale, puffed up with eyes firmly closed. Really puzzling. There is kind of a wheezing sound when some breathe. One who yesterday was very sick looks better.

Thank you for clarifying the age, I wasn't sure if there were 10 week old chicks or if they were 10 weeks old.
Do you have any pictures of them?
I'm glad the one looks better.