Loss of New Chicks Due to Undetermined Causes

Question: On Wednesday, May 24, I received a shipment of chicks from a nearby hatchery. They all appeared healthy on arrival.
On Friday evening, I noticed one chick was listless and separated from the flock, as if unable to keep up with them as they moved about the brooder. I inspected her and found she had pasty butt. I brought her in, cleaned her per recommended protocol under warm running water, dried her and returned her to the brooder. She seemed a bit shaky on her feet but joined the rest of the flock in their preferred nesting spot. Saturday morning I found her deceased, in the midst of the flock (half buried in shavings, still limp and warm, so I figured it hadn’t been long).
This morning, during my inspections, I found 3 more chicks with pasty butt. I brought them in and cleaned them up, dried them, and returned them to the flock. A little while later, I went to check on them, and found an entirely different chick slightly isolated from the flock.
She was listless, unable or unwilling to follow the flock to the feeder and waterer. I brought her in and attempted to set her up in a nursing station. She began shrilly peeping and continued until I picked her up, instantly calming her. I am now stuck in my chair, holding a chick.
She took a few drops of water from a dropper but has not eaten. She just cuddles in my hand and sleeps.
I know I will probably lose this chick before this gets posted but I am trying anyway. I want to try and determine what could be causing this loss.
Thank you in advance, for any help or insight you may provide.
*She deposited a specimen just in time to share. No sign of blood or discolored mucous, though a bit liquid.

responder: Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers  Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county  Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area   Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/  Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension   Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home  Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health    Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous  MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.     Replied May 29, 2023, 9:17 AM EDT
response: Good morning. I’m so very sorry to hear about your chick. Our poultry expert, Dr. Zac Williams could likely help you, but this does sound like a emergency situation where you may want to reach out to the folks that you bought the chicks from or a veterinarian. our response time to question submit it is typically 24 to 48 hours and it being a holiday could delay our response as well.  Best wishes,

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 29, 2023, 10:22 AM EDT
response: Thank you for responding. I did lose the chick, yesterday evening. I did attempt to contact the hatchery, but being a Sunday, they were closed. There was no emergency line or option to leave a message. I am new to the area and unfamiliar with any livestock veterinarians in the area. I will have to locate one, for future needs. I am still interested in any feedback Dr. Williams might have on the situation. As of this morning, my remaining flock all seem to be fine, but each of these two chicks fell ill suddenly and passed on in a short period of time (or so it seems). I realize how delicate their little bodies are, and that it probably doesn’t take much to render them unsalvageable. It’s been about 35 years since I left the farm I grew up on, but dang…chickens did not seem so complicated back then. I am in no way deterred from my venture back to farming (on a small scale), and really want to do the best I can for my animals. Thank you!

responder: Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers  Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county  Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area   Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/  Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension   Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home  Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health    Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous  MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.     Replied June 02, 2023, 7:51 AM EDT
response: Sorry to hear your chick died.  While waiting to hear from Dr. WIlliams, I would mention that we (JMSU/MSU Extension) have extensive resources on our website that might give you some answers and also some information as a new poultry keeper. ;-)  https://www.canr.msu.edu/scaf/poultry_research_teaching_center  Best wishes,

responder: Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers  Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county  Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area   Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/  Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension   Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home  Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health    Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous  MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.     Replied June 02, 2023, 7:52 AM EDT
response: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/poultry-diseases-infectious-coryza

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 03, 2023, 9:52 AM EDT
response: Thank you for the link to the information on Coryza. However, this scenario does not apply to my chicks. The only shared symptom from that list was the lethargy. I did not notice any signs of respiratory distress, or swelling/draining of the eyes or nasal cavities. So, still seeking an answer as to why a chick would go from appearing active and normal to lethargic and unable to eat or drink within a matter of a few short hours, resulting in death shortly thereafter. We tried to keep them warm, we tried giving water and electrolytes via a dropper, and tried to reduce their distress by allowing them to cuddle in our hands and against our bodies (they would shrilly peep if we tried to put them down). The rest of the flock is currently flourishing. Thank you again.

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 09, 2023, 11:48 AM EDT
response: Sorry to hear about your chick.  Unfortunately there is not a lot I can do as for as a diagnosis. I will say that it sounds like you did as much as you could for the chick, but sometimes these things happen anyway.  Usually within the first week any mortality is something hatchery related.  I know this isn't what you were looking for but it's the best answer I can give you.