Chicks dying 1 week old

[Jada22]

I had 2 chicks die today- both became very weak around the same time, one had been laying down looking lifeless and the other was sitting hunched over looking unwell. They were fine 1-2 hours before this.
I removed both as they were being pushed around a bit. They had no interest in food or water (felt a bit light when I lifted them)
Both passed away.

All other chicks are acting completely normal- the only thing I find a bit abnormal is they do not spend much time under the heat plate and haven’t the whole time maybe my house is warmer then when I was previously brooding chicks I’m not sure.
But all are active and eating and drinking.

One other abnormality is I lost 8 eggs very late in incubation (out of 23 fertile eggs) so maybe something went wrong in incubation that caused all issues? Temps and humidity seemed ok turning was done correctly.

Their brooder is in my house and temperature in my house is comfortable and stays consistent no drafts. They have the option of heat plate which is slightly tilted (I’ve used it several times the same way no previous issues) as previously mentioned they’re not using it a whole lot but do sleep under it.

Lots of access to clean water and food- fed chick crumb only.
Brooded on towels so nothing in the brooder they could be ingesting.

Any ideas? Anything I’m not thinking of?
I was out for a few hours yesterday so they weren’t monitored as much as usual.
All chicks are polish chicks all eggs from the same place and were not shipped.

 

[Debbie292d]

As for the chicks, when you said towels, did you mean paper towels or cloth towels, as if it's the latter, it's probably the laundry detergent or drier sheets that are getting to them especially when heated up. Had you cleaned the heat plate with something that could be giving off something? Anything around the room they're in like candles, air fresheners, cooking/baking, etc.? I'd put a thermometer under the lowest part to make sure that it's not running too hot.

Reference the incubator, do you have a hygrometer/thermometer separate from the incubators? I ask because most of them are incorrect. I have two expensive Brinsea 56EXs and had a NR360 before that, and none of them are correct.

Humidity should be between 40-50% until lockdown (3 days before hatch day.) Then it should be 65-70% for the last three days.

I would put some vitamins like Poultry Cell or Nutradrench in their water to give them a little boost.

I sure hope the rest stay healthy!!

 

[Jada22]

As for the chicks, when you said towels, did you mean paper towels or cloth towels, as if it's the latter, it's probably the laundry detergent or drier sheets that are getting to them especially when heated up. Had you cleaned the heat plate with something that could be giving off something? Anything around the room they're in like candles, air fresheners, cooking/baking, etc.? I'd put a thermometer under the lowest part to make sure that it's not running too hot.

Reference the incubator, do you have a hygrometer/thermometer separate from the incubators? I ask because most of them are incorrect. I have two expensive Brinsea 56EXs and had a NR360 before that, and none of them are correct.

Humidity should be between 40-50% until lockdown (3 days before hatch day.) Then it should be 65-70% for the last three days.

I would put some vitamins like Poultry Cell or Nutradrench in their water to give them a little boost.

I sure hope the rest stay healthy!!

Cloth towels washed in a cycle with no detergent, no drier sheets.
Nothing new used on heat plate.
And nothing at all in the room!

Yes I’ve used separate thermometers and hygrometers but not running at all times so unless the temperature spiked at some point?

I’ll try vitamins in the water. Currently all other chicks look healthy and are eating and drinking.

Just very unusual especially to have both deaths of chicks and the late deaths in hatching as well. Fingers crossed all others will continue to stay well