I do not know what is happening

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hdbickmore

In the Brooder
Mar 30, 2022
6
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I bought 5 chicks from farm and home store, all was well and I decided to add 2 more, I bought them from a different farm store and again all was well, We are about 3 weeks in and 2 days ago I found one dead(from the first feed store), Looked and felt healthy, I thought.. huh well sometimes chicks just die, So yesterday I stopped at the farm store and got 2 more for a total of 8, got home and another one of my chicks was dead the exact same way(from the second farm store). I had switched to a brooder plate so I thought maybe they are just not doing well with the plate and are either too cold or too hot so I took the plate out, grabbed a bigger tub (incase they were over crowded) and set them back up with the heat lamp, fresh food and water (i added chick vitamins to water after the first died just in case) Put the two new ones in there and set up a camera on them so I could check on them at work.

I went out this morning, fresh water added, fresh food (chick crumbles) all looked well and went to work. Just checked the cameras and one of them looks paralyzed, the others were picking at it and it was just moving around like it has no legs. NOW I am freaked out, I called the first feed store to ask if they had talked to anyone else who had issues and they said no, I called the second feed store but no one was in yet. This will be my second year with chicks, I raised 9 last year with no issues at all, super healthy and happy. What in the world is happening to my chicks, how is it spreading and how do I stop it??
 
First, stop adding more chicks. On the off chance you are dealing with a contagious illness (I hear avian flu is going around), exposing more chicks is going to make things worse. Also, make sure you are washing your hands after dealing with these chicks, especially if you are heading out to interact with your main flock.

As for exploring what happened:
Have they had grit in their food?
Any signs of pasting around the vents?
What temperature is your brooder? Alternatively, are they huddled under the lamp/plate or trying to get away from it?
 
Battlepants said:
First, stop adding more chicks. On the off chance you are dealing with a contagious illness (I hear avian flu is going around), exposing more chicks is going to make things worse. Also, make sure you are washing your hands after dealing with these chicks, especially if you are heading out to interact with your main flock.

As for exploring what happened:
Have they had grit in their food?
Any signs of pasting around the vents?
What temperature is your brooder? Alternatively, are they huddled under the lamp/plate or trying to get away from it?
Click to expand...

No there is not grit in their food, I have chick grit but I do not usually add it till 4 weeks
I check their vents every day and wash as needed
I do not know the exact temperature but when I had the plate they spent a lot of time on top so I raised it thinking it was too hot, the next day is when my first died. I switched back to the heat light last night after the second died and they do snuggle under it but do not seem to mind going to the other side to eat and drink, It is also 70 degrees where I live currently so i was not worried about them freezing.
 
I agree to stop adding chicks for now.
I would put some probiotics/electrolytes in their water to build up their gut health, and sprinkle small amounts of chick grit on their food in case they are eating wood shavings.
I use Rooster booster or Sav-a-chick.
 
Update: all seems to be well now, I treated them for mites, incase that was why they were picking, I changed their food, I added Chick Grit and did some Save a Chick in their water, Everyone seems to be holding happy, no coughing, no weird behavior (except some chest bumping) Ill keep you posted if something changes, Thank you for the help!
 
hdbickmore said:
I bought 5 chicks from farm and home store, all was well and I decided to add 2 more, I bought them from a different farm store and again all was well, We are about 3 weeks in and 2 days ago I found one dead(from the first feed store), Looked and felt healthy, I thought.. huh well sometimes chicks just die, So yesterday I stopped at the farm store and got 2 more for a total of 8, got home and another one of my chicks was dead the exact same way(from the second farm store). I had switched to a brooder plate so I thought maybe they are just not doing well with the plate and are either too cold or too hot so I took the plate out, grabbed a bigger tub (incase they were over crowded) and set them back up with the heat lamp, fresh food and water (i added chick vitamins to water after the first died just in case) Put the two new ones in there and set up a camera on them so I could check on them at work.

I went out this morning, fresh water added, fresh food (chick crumbles) all looked well and went to work. Just checked the cameras and one of them looks paralyzed, the others were picking at it and it was just moving around like it has no legs. NOW I am freaked out, I called the first feed store to ask if they had talked to anyone else who had issues and they said no, I called the second feed store but no one was in yet. This will be my second year with chicks, I raised 9 last year with no issues at all, super healthy and happy. What in the world is happening to my chicks, how is it spreading and how do I stop it??
Click to expand...
Wow sounds just like my experience with silver laced and golden laced wyandottes. They acted the same exact way and I kept going back and getting new ones. What kind of chicks are dying?
 

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