Why did my chick die so suddenly?

[heartsandwings]

My 5 week old barred rock pullet died in my arms today and I have no idea why.
I had treated them for coccidiosis about 2-3 weeks ago when I found a bloody poop, but they were all running around and healthy. They have been happily running around, eyes bright and I have been putting them outside everyday (so they could have come into contact with a new strand of cocci in the soil) but they were all happy and healthy, eating and drinking even yesterday. I noticed nothing odd about them, and I am very vigilant as I have already had one chick die. This morning I found her lethargic, eyes closed not eating and there was a bloody poop (quite dark blood) but these symptoms happened over night. So I thought it could be coccidiosis and put amprolium treatment in my chicks waterer. I also fed her food that I feed to sick chicks (mushy chick feed, some yoghurt, and a bit of basil or oregano water) She ate and drank but was getting worse. I noticed that she was quite ill so I took her into my arms and she died. (This all happened within and hour- from noticing symptoms to death)
I've had other younger chicks like this before, but their symptoms have been slower to progress and they normally pep up once we get fluids, food and medication into them.
Could she have eaten something poisonous in the garden or maybe it was coccidiosis?

 

[azygous]

It's terribly stressful to lose a chick. I've never gotten used to it in the ten years I've been keeping chickens. But you have done your very best, and you must not feel you've let your chickens down.

There are so many things that can kill a chicken. You're aware of a few possibilities. If the cause was a toxin, you can probably figure it out by combing the area your chickens have been, looking for putrid compost piles, machinery leaking fluids onto the soil, peeling paint, planters where insecticide has been used recently that may have mixed with water to form toxic puddles.

But it's entirely possible that your chick died of coccidiosis. Did you do the recommended followup treatment a week after finishing the first round? Sometimes it takes this second treatment, and even a third to firmly establish resistance to your local coccidia. If you haven't done any followup courses of amprolium, it might be a good idea to do so.

And this death could have genetic causes, a "time-bomb" where there was organic failure in this one particular chick that was just a coincidence.

I'm sorry you've had to experience this grief. Hang on. Each day it will hurt a bit less.

 

[heartsandwings]

It's terribly stressful to lose a chick. I've never gotten used to it in the ten years I've been keeping chickens. But you have done your very best, and you must not feel you've let your chickens down.

There are so many things that can kill a chicken. You're aware of a few possibilities. If the cause was a toxin, you can probably figure it out by combing the area your chickens have been, looking for putrid compost piles, machinery leaking fluids onto the soil, peeling paint, planters where insecticide has been used recently that may have mixed with water to form toxic puddles.

But it's entirely possible that your chick died of coccidiosis. Did you do the recommended followup treatment a week after finishing the first round? Sometimes it takes this second treatment, and even a third to firmly establish resistance to your local coccidia. If you haven't done any followup courses of amprolium, it might be a good idea to do so.

And this death could have genetic causes, a "time-bomb" where there was organic failure in this one particular chick that was just a coincidence.

I'm sorry you've had to experience this grief. Hang on. Each day it will hurt a bit less.

I did do a follow up treatment and they have been totally fine for a couple of weeks...
Should I treat my remaining chicks for coccidiosis again just in case?