What is happening with my chicks?

[MTCoop]

Hi, I am a chicken newbie. We received 19 day old chicks last Tuesday. Everyone did great until Friday - we lost one late Friday night. We think this was due to stress as we had some friends over with small children and they got handled a lot The kids were gentle and the chicks are used to getting some human contact, but maybe we overdid it that day. Felt so sad. Then, everyone seemed fine until my son went to check on them yesterday morning and one was dead. He called them and all came over except for this one. He touched it and sadly she was gone. Now, last night my husband went out and one was real lethargic. It was just laying there and everyone else was running all over her. He put her in a separate container, gave her heat, water and food. We thought she wouldn't last the night. Well, I am happy to report that she is still alive but sadly she doesn't seem to have too much energy. She is still in her own little brooder and she is drinking, eating and pooping. Just not too lively.
Any suggestions?? I really don't want to lose any more. Can anyone give me some advice? Thanks in advance. I feel like I am practically living on this website as it has such great info on it!

 

[Farmer Viola]

Please post this over in the Emergencies/Diseases section. It could be coccidiosis, do you see any blood in their droppings? If so they will need to be treated immediately with corrid. Do you provide medicated or non medicated feed?

again please post in the emergencies section, more qualified people there can help you!

 

[MTCoop]

Thank you. No blood in any droppings and they are getting medicated feed. Thanks

 

[dermerchickens]

Did you give them sugar water? Maybe giving her some will perk her up, it is 1 tsp for 1 quart, can we see some pictures of her?

 

[Farmer Viola]

ok for the lethargic one, I would give it raw honey mixed water asap as a source of electrolytes and energy. until you get better advice from the Emergencies section, this is what I would do for her. honeywater can literally keep her alive if she won't eat food.

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[MTCoop]

Thanks for the honey tip. Just tried and she took a few sips but she seems to be getting more weak each time I check on her. When I pick her up her eyes stayed closed

 

[MTCoop]

Thanks everyone. She just died while I was holding her Hope that's the last one for a while

 

[Farmer Viola]

gah, I am so sorry *hugs*

you did everything that you could... sometimes they are just weak for reasons we dont understand. it could be from shipment, sometimes that causes delayed deaths. could be nutritional deficiency from the parent stock, or any number of other things.

I would provide pro-biotics and electrolytes to the remaining chicks, and chick vitamins like NutriDrench or Poly Vi Sol.

here is a page with possible causes of young chick death :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39604/some-causes-of-early-chick-mortality

 

[dermerchickens]

Thanks everyone. She just died while I was holding her

Hope that's the last one for a while

I am sooo sorry!!! You did your best I know.

 

[MTCoop]

Thanks everyone. I feel like I did everything I could, but it still really sucks. I am giving the rest probiotics and I will look into those products you recommend.
Thanks for your kind words. Hopefully that is it and everyone else will be okay