WHAT is happening? blind chicks- bubble eyes- then fall over dead

[maf2008]

Last weeks cold was horrible....

(I am in Texas) we had a cold snap of 20 degrees which is rare.... In the covered coop I placed 5 heat lamps surrounded by plastic with an open area fo the chicks hens (age range 8 weeks to 12 weeks)

even with the heat and covered area a few were dead the next morning... next days other developed "bubble eye" perhaps a little yellow drainage... the smaller ones (8/9 weeks) are just fine and then in the middle of the day I am finding 2 or 3 dead.

This is not cocci... (I do not think) chicks are all eating and not legarthic no droopy wings. no coughing or sneezing either.

Is this a cold? is it contagious NONE of the older 12 week old birds are showing any symptoms.

Before the cold snap, these chicks were not drpping dead- I have other chicks that need to go out to the coop 6/8 weeks and feathered.. but I think I should put them in another seperate pen. Please advise ASAP thanks PLEASE HELP

 

[Katy]

There's no way to know for sure what you're dealing with unless you take one of the dead ones to be tested. If the testing comes back negative then you'll need to look at their living conditions and figure out what needs to be changed.

You said you weren't having issues before the cold came, but according to this thread they were dying before the cold weather.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=282679

maf2008 wrote:

Help! F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G weather coming some chicks have swollen eyes and they are shut. They are in a covered coop, with heat lamps and a plastic tarp covering open areas. They have fresh air.. Some have just died! Most are 3 months old but all are feathered.​

 

[maf2008]

This pen of chicks did have cocci and was treated before putting into the outdoor covered pen. My new batch of chicks
(3 days to 7 1/2 weeks) are all in the barn and no problems at all......

The ones dying are all fully feathered/fead and heated coop run. Is there anyone ELSE out there with advice? could this be cocci again?

The pen beside this one has the chickes from the SAME batch and no death or bubble eye.... So this is why I am wondering

I cant afford the expense of testing.

 

[easttxchick]

The symptom of bubbly eyes doesn't sound like cocci.
Katy is absolutely right-it sounds like the possibility that something infectious has gotten in your flock and is killing off your birds. Possibly CRD or Mareks. I think some of the State Labs will do the necropsy for free. Perhaps if you live close to Texas A&M call them and ask them who could do a necropsy for you.
She is also right in that until you know what you're dealing with it is shooting in the dark to treat(especially if it is viral).
Good luck and hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

 

[ranchhand]

The bubbly eyes do not have anything to do with coccidiosis. Best guess is MG, also known as CRD, which is highly infectious and surviving birds are carriers. Have you brought in any birds within the last 2-3 months? Or have you visited anyone else's flock? Since this started 2 weeks ago, and you are still losing chicks, I highly recommend testing to find out what you're dealing with.

This post is very informative:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=181490

If you can locate an interested vet they may do the test/necropsy for free. Meanwhile, to prevent spread throughout your flock, start extreme biosecurity measures immediately. Tend each group separately, with a thorough washup and change of clothes and shoes in between tending each group. Do the sick ones last. Don't go near anyones birds, so as to not carry the sickness to them.

Good luck, sounds like you need it!

 

[maf2008]

I AM IN SHOCK AND DISBELIEF URGENT URGENT URGENT! Please advise ASAP

Oh this is worse than I thought....

The other pen has 3 dead hens just dropped dead and I am carring out BUCKETS OF DEAD CHICKS AND HENS... I am in shock. Who can tell me to call now? I am in Texas.

I think I know what hAppened. I did not EVER get hens or chicks from anyone. I have been using Ideal ONLY except when I got eggs from neighbors to hatch. I know Ideal is not the carrier. Those eggs/chicks must have been the carriers. I do not know for sure what it is...

I need to call and have my flock tested. who can i call for testing?

1) can we eat the eggs?
2) I am hatching a batch of fertile eggs (day 3) should I cull them?
3) should I cancel my order for more chicks from Ideal?
4) I have 300 chicks in my barn and no where to put them except in the pen.

Oh God somebody HELP ME!

I did read the link and this looks like the possible problem. Is there any meds to save the flock? What can I do

Quote:

 

[maf2008]

I just spoke to the vet and he said to clean the water... (we have had lots of mud and chickens are walking in mud and dirty the water pans) I will use the best kind of water container on the market I need to put the chickens on Tertacycline (sp) ASAP and in 5 days if this may clear up but Dr doesnot know for sure. wish me luck

Quote:

 

[Katy]

If they have CRD or MG no amount of medicene or clean water is going to solve your problem. Even the ones who survive will be carriers and can pass it on to any birds they come into contact with. Get some birds tested before you even think about selling any birds to anyone and infecting their flock!!!!