15 day old Araucana chicks- diarhea is starting to spread

[tammir]

Hi everyone, I am brand new on here and to the world of chickens. On Saturday I brought home 4 chicks that were hatched on 1/31. They are all active and appear to be eating and drinking well. At first one chick had diarhea that I noticed on late Sunday and on Monday evening a second chick had started with the diarhea as well. I've been feeding them medicated chick crumbles, which they were not on according to the woman I purchased them from- she had them on feed for much older chicks, and I've been told it could be something as simple as them adapting to the new food or perhaps drinking too much water.
I have a blue & gold macaw and know from him that birds mask illness very well as a defense mechanism. I don't know if I should be overly concerned as at has only been a few days, or if I should be doing something else as it has spread from just one chick to two chicks. I am cleaning their cage and water and food dishes with a mild household disenfectant and wiping it all down with clear water prior to putting fresh pine bedding down. ( the bedding is being changed twice a day and the water 2-3 times a day to try to keep it clean). I've read I shouldn't put medicine in the water if they are on a medicated feed so I'm at a loss. Any suggestions? Should I switch them to regular chick crumbles and then get a medicated supplement to put in their water?
Thanks!

 

[SteveBaz]

i JUST POSTED THIS BC THE ISSUE IS SO SIMILAR FORGIVE ME; YOUR PLIGHT IS THE VERY SIMILAR TO THIS AND READ

but first Welcome to the BYC

There are many causes for a sticky tushy and usually its feeding them food they have trouble or this bird has trouble digesting. No big deal even if its a bit discomforting. It will require a bit of patients on your part and a warm, (not Hot!!) rag or wash cloth. and a bit of soaking and gentle wiping of and around the vent area just to see if it was raw. Then I would carefully put some Neosporin around the vent and this should stop the sticking but does not solve the problem. You need to go back to basic foods and not a lot of treats or odd treats but basic ones. Here is a list of foods they may or may not like but are on the to do list; REMEMBER TO MUCH OF ANYTHING IS NOT EXACTLY GOOD. BALANCED IS THE THE KEY!!!!

You are on the right tract with "Medicated Chick Feed" and they will stay on that food for 23 to 25 weeks. Here is a treat chart notice I said Treat. There are four food groups and you should be feeding them all four. Balance is the key to it all. Proteins, Carbs, Dairy and Veggies are the trick, Balance

Food Treat Chart From the BYC
Treat

Type

General Opinions
Apples

Raw and applesauce

Apple seeds contain cyanide, but not in sufficient quantities to kill.

Asparagus

Raw or cooked

Okay to feed, but not a favorite.
Bananas

Without the peel

High in potassium, a good treat.
Beans

Well-cooked only, never dry

Also, green beans.
Beets

Greens also.

.
Berries

All kinds

A treat, especially strawberries.
Breads

All kinds - good use for stale bread or rolls

Feed starches in moderation.
Broccoli & Cauliflower

.

Tuck into a suet cage and they will pick at it all day.
Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts

Whole head -

Hang a whole cabbage from their coop ceiling in winter so they have something to play with and greens to eat.
Carrots

Raw and cooked

They like carrot foliage too.
Cat food * (see bottom of page)

Wet and dry

Feed in strict moderation, perhaps only during molting * (see bottom of page)
Cereal

Cheerios, etc.

Avoid highly sugared cereal such as Cocopuffs, etc.
Cheese

Including cottage cheese

Feed in moderation, fatty but a good source of protein and calcium
Cooked Chicken

.

They may like it and it won’t kill them, but it just seems so wrong.
Corn

On cob and canned, raw and cooked

.
Crickets (alive)

Can be bought at bait or pet-supply stores.

Great treat – provides protein and it’s fun to watch the chickens catch them.
Cucumbers




Let mature for yummy seeds and flesh.
Eggs

Hard cooked and scrambled are a good source of protein, and a favorite treat.

Feed cooked eggs only because you don’t want your chickens to start eating their own raw eggs.
Eggplant

.

.
Fish / Seafood

Cooked only.


Flowers

Make sure they haven't been treated with pesticides, such as florist flowers might be.

Marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies, etc.
Fruit

Pears, peaches, cherries, apples


Grains

Bulgur, flax, Niger, wheat berries, etc.

.
Grapes

Seedless only.
For chicks, cutting them in half makes it easier for them to swallow.

Great fun - the cause of many entertaining "chicken keep-a-way" games.
Grits

Cooked


"Leftovers"

Only feed your chickens that which is still considered edible by humans, don't feed anything spoiled, moldy, oily, salty or unidentifiable.


Lettuce / Kale

Any leafy greens, spinach collards, chickweed included.

A big treat, depending on how much other greenery they have access to.
Mealworms
(see photo after the chart)

Available at pet supply stores or on the internet, although shipping is expensive!

A huge (!) favorite treat, probably the most foolproof treat on the books.
Meat scraps of any kind.

Not too fatty.

In moderation, a good source of protein
Melon

Cantaloupe, etc.

Both seeds and flesh are good chicken treats.
Oatmeal

Raw or cooked

Cooked is nutritionally better.
Pasta / Macaroni

Cooked spaghetti, etc.

A favorite treat, fun to watch them eat it, but not much nutrition.
Peas

Peas and pea tendrils and flowers

.
Peppers (bell)

.

.
Pomegranates

Raw

Seeds are a big treat.
Popcorn

Popped, no butter, no salt.


Potatoes / Sweet Potatoes/Yams

Cooked only - avoid green parts of peels!

Starchy, not much nutrition
Pumpkins / Winter Squash

Raw or cooked

Both seeds and flesh are a nutritious treat.
Raisins

.


Rice

Cooked only

Pilaf mixes are okay too, plain white rice has little nutrition.
Scratch

Scratch is cracked corn with grains (such as wheat, oats and rye) mixed in.

Scratch is a treat for cold weather, not a complete feed. Toss it on the ground and let them scratch for it for something to do.
Sprouts

Wheat and oat sprouts are great!

Good for greens in mid-winter.
Summer Squash

Yellow squash and zucchini

Yellow squash not a huge favorite, but okay to feed.
Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds with the shell still on is fine to feed, as well as with the shell off.

A good treat, helps hens lay eggs and grow healthy feathers.
Tomatoes

Raw and cooked.


Turnips

Cooked.

Not a huge favorite
Watermelon

Served cold, it can keep chickens cool and hydrated during hot summers.

Seeds and flesh are both okay to feed.
Yogurt

Plain or flavored

A big favorite and good for their digestive systems. Plain is better.
The most favorite chicken treat of all – mealworms

 

[tammir]

Thanks for the response! Fortunately their vents are all clear and show no signs of irritation. They all seem to be doing a fairly good job of keeping themselves and each other preened. I'm afraid to introduce any treats to them since they are so young - should I offer them something so 'exoctic' while they are obviously having an issue with their current diet?? I don't mean to be a pain, I'd just hate to lose any of them, not to mention my 5 y/o would be heartbroken!

 

[tammir]

My last 2 chicks are starting with the diarhea this morning as well. Last night when I got home their cage smelled much better than what it had the past couple of days so I was hopeful that this was passing and all of the babies would come through with flying colors. This morning the last two have come down with it as well. The temperature seems to be ok for them - sometimes I'll find them huddled by the light when they're sleeping but otherwise they are either paired off or wandering around the rest of their space without any signs of being too hot or too cold. (I have them inside the house until they get their feathers in and the last of the cold temps at night pass - I'm in coastal NC so winter is relatively mild.)

IS there a disease that could explain this that I need to treat aggressively? Should I just continue to leave them on the medicated chick crumbles or switch to regular crumbles and get something to add to their water? While the response I got earlier was very informative, it doesn't answer my question as to what action I need to take- if any. Can chicks die from diarhea? They all seem to have a good activity level, a couple of them are even starting to jump higher this morning than what they've been capable of before. I'm just new at this and don't know how resilient chicks can be at 2 weeks of age.

 

[cashdl]

I would put organic apple cidar vinegar in their water. Just a 1/2 teaspoon if you are using a chick waterer. It seems to aid with alot of things including digestion.


Lanae

 

[SteveBaz]

No treats regular food and fresh water with organic apple cider vinegar and vita sol liquid vitamins.

 

[PtldChick]

If the first two got it and now it's passed, then likely the same will happen with the second two. They may be adjusting to the new feed. I would stick with it and not change anything other than maybe the suggestions about ACV in the water.