i keep loosing my chicks

[daniellesdogs]

iv been having a run of bad luck this year with my chicks
iv lost about 6 orpington chicks out of 14
3 pekins from 6 under broody 6/8 weeks old
4 of 4 under broody
and yesterday while i was at work my last broody knocked over all the water and i came home to 2 dead orpingtons dehydration
i haven a clue about most of the others some were in doors in brooder couple out side and rest with the broodies also have a sick chick
any ideas what i can give to build them up.
i havent work till wed so can keep eye on water then my step dad going to have them for 3 days.
iv given them egg this morn

 

[chrismahon]

How old are your broodies? They should be at least two. We tried with a younger one and she paniced and ate the chicks as they hatched!
Egg is good but we always give ours a tiny bit of probiotic natural yoghurt at day two to give their digestive system a kick start -as when young they digest very little and the hen will eat the poos as there is so much nutrient left in them.
Worth looking for lice and mites as they may be part of the problem.

 

[podstable]

Poor you-poor chicks. Must be something going on , as CM says ?red mite (my prime suspect here ) or ? coccidiosis ? I think you need to hunt for the cause as a matter of priority -hope all goes OK . Ros

 

[daniellesdogs]

they only 1 but first clutch were over 6 weeks when i lost them. the last lost chick just lost 2 more so iv put her and 2 remaining chicks in garden to dust bath that way if remite will get them away from wood
i did have redmite iv treated the chickens and chicks and cleaned out disinfected then insectisided the coops sheds and any other wood every week end doing again sat should hope be end
i cant find any on birds or on the boody hutches
my ducks are in tip top condtion