Why are my chicks dieing???

[BLaBauve]

Last week I had 2 month old chicks die. One seemed to develop some deformity and the other died while gasping for breath. This week in another pen I have 4 week old chicks with a broody hen. They are all breathing rapidly and today one won't walk around. It just stands there breathing rapidly. None of my adult birds seem sick - just chicks. Help!!

 

[chuckzoo]

Sorry I can't help but I'm giving you a bump hopefully someone will know what the problem is.

 

[BLaBauve]

Thanks for the bump. I wonder of my adult birds are carriers of something that the chicks are getting. I hope I can save them!

 

[500592]

you should bring them inside and feed them medicated chick starter good luck

 

[BLaBauve]

Will it really depress mom to take her babies from her?

 

[easttxchick]

Is the rapid breathing the only symptom you have seen before they passed?
Eating, drinking, poo look OK, are they possibly overheated, what kind of bedding are they using?
Sorry for the questions, just trying to gather some info so maybe we can help.
What kind of deformity do you mean on the 2 month old that died? Where was it?

 

[500592]

i shouldnt depress the mother she will think theywere stolen and she will be calm at least that is whatmy 3 hens did when i took them

 

[BLaBauve]

The only symtom I've noticed is rapid breathing. They will eat and drink, but then stop to breath heavily for awhile. The sickest one just stays by itself now and won't eat or drink

the chick that died last week was holding its wings up and squatting. I noticed its knees were bright red - it died in a few hours after seperating it. It's sibling died the next day - it was gasping for air.

These chicks are on pine shavings in the coop and they have mulch in the run. The follow mom around and eat whatever she eats. Sometimes it's starter feed and sometimes layer feed that has fallen from the feeder. I try to get them to eat as much starter as possible -it is an organic non medicated starter. Should I switch to medicated?

 

[BLaBauve]

And my coop and run is completely in the shade.

 

[ranchhand]

What a puzzle. What kind of mulch in the run? Any cedar in it?