Starve out

Starve out means failure of the chicks to find feed and / or water. Increased mortality is seen from about 4-5 days onwards and lasts for a few days. Birds are small, weak and dehydrated, with no feed in crops or gizzards. Sometimes litter can be found in the crops or gizzard.

Starve out can be caused due to weakness or disease in the chicks, but usually management factors are the main cause: insufficient or inappropriate drinkers and feeders, not enough light, chilling or overheating, too fine litter material or inappropriate feed size.

Improved management and electrolytes should reduce losses.