Why do my 12 Week old chicks keep dieing?!?! Staggering, foul poop, weak...

[Wyorp Rock]

A coccus (plural cocci) is any bacterium or archaeon that has a spherical, ovoid, or generally round shape. It is one of the three distinct bacterial shapes, the other two being bacillus (rod-shaped) and spiral-shaped cells.

 

[Barredhen]

Thankyou all for the thoughts!

OK they're on Neutrena chick starter and yes, they have chick grit too. The feed was a brand new bag, no mold. I'm not sure why the one chick would only eat shavings...

They're completely dry, they've been in my tack room where no animals have been, because they were indoors where I bought them and here in Michigan it's cold! The tack room is insulated and slightly heated so I could slowly wean them from the lamp and heat. This week it's been 40* during the day so it's their warmest shot to acclimate to outside, now they're in the fully enclosed coop (12x12) with a heat lamp at night and no heat during the days. They've been kept clean and dry. I cannot imagine they're over crowded anywhere here because there were only 6, now 4! I do not have other chickens right now, just these little guys. They're on fresh clean shavings, food and water changed twice daily.

Interesting about not "over cleaning" that they need exposure makes sence and I'd say both where I bought them and here they've had their bedding changed daily... In the tack room they were in a 4 X 6 spot in the corner so that might have been a little crowded but I did clean it often. Like I said, now they're in the coop which is much larger and meant foor birds vrs making my horse tack a mess! But everything would have been REALLY CLEAN and indoor life for them prior to this week when they moved outside. (The two died before going out)

outside already or in a brooder still or broody raised? Did you let the breeder know about you first night loss? What was their response?

They were in a brooder still. I guess, since these were a little older, they were indoors in a cage under a light but quite a few chicks to a small area, however the setup was immaculate clean and fresh.
I have not let the breeder know yet, but plan to. We lost the one the first night, the other sick shortly after and we noticed that one has a crooked beak (I guess I should have looked closer at who we bought before I left!) we bought 6 total, two died and one has a crooked beak, they're heritage breeds and weren't cheap so I'm a bit bummed.



UPDATE on them: I started the recently sick chick on DiMethox before seeing try Corid again. She is in a dog crate near her buddies and from what I have seen of her today she looks completely fine and happy and would really like out. The second chick who died was bad, got better and ate well for a few days after I posted the origional thread and then declined and died. So I hope this chick doesn't do they same!

The 3 remaining chicks I've not retreated or started on DiMethox yet as they seem fine with everything and are loving being outside in the coop.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you started the DiMethox, then I would continue with that - finish the course of treatment.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

they're on Neutrena chick starter and yes, they have chick grit too. The feed was a brand new bag, no mold.

Is that 18% protein?

I can't believe that Nutrena and Manna Pro both sell 18% protein chick starter. It isn't truly enough IMO... especially for dual purpose breeds. For informational purposes... I have opened and used a bag of perfectly good feed... only to discover moldy looking pellets in the middle of perfectly dry bag stored indoors. In other words the pellets were moldy from the factory... oddly enough, Purina no longer manufactures their flock raiser pellets.. It was probably a certain run because 3 bags I opened were like that. I think they can hide the "acceptable" levels better inside the crumbles easier. Lets be real, even our canned tomato sauce and such has some rotten stuff that makes it in... and approved by the FDA.

I wish you had let the breeder know right away... that wasn't your fault... as a breeder, I WANT to know if anyone has issues with my birds because I can't fix what I don't know. But if they call me a few weeks later I would be caught of guard and unable to help as much as I could have if they just reached out. I would ALWAYS replace or refund a bird that passes the very first night... that's just not acceptable. I wan't the families to return as satisfied repeat customers with a fantastic experience that spread like wildfire by word of mouth.

The second chick who died was bad, got better and ate well for a few days after I posted the origional thread and then declined and died.

There may have been too much intestinal damage to absorb the nutrients properly.

Glad you are seeing some recovery. Hope she thrives!

 

[Barredhen]

I was so sure on Coccidiosis but now I'm back to wondering about Mareks...

I set the sick chick up on a piece of wood to snap a picture of her for my mom, who wondered what they look like at this age, and noticed her walk was funny (video 1)

So I watched her back in her separate box and didn't notice the same...

Then I wanted to see her run around so I set her midst her sisters for a minute to watch and she looks fairly normal. (She's the smaller mottled Java) Soooo maybe it was just being up on the wood?

The first picture is her poop this morning, it's been normal. I haven't seen blood in their poop yet. The second picture is another chicks poop this morning...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Walking looks normal to me. I think the first video you have her up high and she is just unsure...
Poop looks pretty good, I do see a bit of intestinal shedding and some mucous.
Coccidiosis does not always present as blood in the stool, there are only 1 or 2 strains that even show up as blood. There are 9 strains.

She's moving around pretty nicely. Hopefully she will eat/drink and continue to do o.k.

 

[Barredhen]

OK interesting about the protein level in the Neutrena feed. Yes it is 18%
I've only raised 3 batches of layers before and they've always been on Kalmbach which is a non GMO feed and 20%
The breeder used this so I figured I'd just keep them on it.
Our first year with chickens many years ago people told me I'd loose a lot, so we bought 16 chickens and didn't loose any for I think two years! (We wanted more like 8)
I've actually never lost a chick or had a sick chicken so I've been wondering if it's these particular chickens, if it's the fact that it's winter, feed, what!

I will try slowly switching them over to the feed I normally used, which is a higher proton. They're not as fat as I'd think they should be. Especially when one gets sick. I'm sure it has more to do with what they have and the disease then the feed but higher protein feed is probably a great idea!

 

[Barredhen]

Walking looks normal to me. I think the first video you have her up high and she is just unsure...
Poop looks pretty good, I do see a bit of intestinal shedding and some mucous.
Coccidiosis does not always present as blood in the stool, there are only 1 or 2 strains that even show up as blood. There are 9 strains. She's moving around pretty nicely. Hopefully she will eat/drink and continue to do o.k.

Ok, Thanks!

Good to know about the Coccidiosis strains I did not know that.
Do goats, cats, dogs etc get the same coccidiosis as chickens?

She's not eating well at all separate so while she was out she stuffed anything she could find in her face, I wonder if I should just treat all 4 of them so she can be out. I'm worried she's starving herself and they've had so much stress it doesn't seem like it would take much. Poor little birdies. I feel so bad.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok, Thanks!

Good to know about the Coccidiosis strains I did not know that.
Do goats, cats, dogs etc get the same coccidiosis as chickens?

She's not eating well at all separate so while she was out she stuffed anything she could find in her face, I wonder if I should just treat all 4 of them so she can be out. I'm worried she's starving herself and they've had so much stress it doesn't seem like it would take much. Poor little birdies. I feel so bad.

Coccidia is species (strain) specific in poultry.
But yes, their are dog, cat and goats strains as well - as far as I know, those are specific to each animal as well.

Sulfa medication can be hard on them, so it's up to you whether to treat the rest. Probably won't hurt them though. Some birds won't eat well by themselves so if that will make a huge difference for her, it's something to consider.

 

[Melky]

OK interesting about the protein level in the Neutrena feed. Yes it is 18%
I've only raised 3 batches of layers before and they've always been on Kalmbach which is a non GMO feed and 20%
The breeder used this so I figured I'd just keep them on it.
Our first year with chickens many years ago people told me I'd loose a lot, so we bought 16 chickens and didn't loose any for I think two years! (We wanted more like 8)
I've actually never lost a chick or had a sick chicken so I've been wondering if it's these particular chickens, if it's the fact that it's winter, feed, what!

I will try slowly switching them over to the feed I normally used, which is a higher proton. They're not as fat as I'd think they should be. Especially when one gets sick. I'm sure it has more to do with what they have and the disease then the feed but higher protein feed is probably a great idea!

They would and do better on 20% feed until 8 weeks after that 18% is fine until laying then 16%.