2 month olds smothering each other at night

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Hey, Maryallison!
I found this on another thread and thought I would copy it here for you. I'm hoping you are only having roost issues, but thought the info might be helpful anyway.

The info came from another thread on cocci and was supplied by Speckled Hen. Wish I'd had it about a week ago...

the signs for coccidiosis is
weak chick
standing alone especially in corner
ruffled feathers
and only drinking water
and manure is runny
some times with blood and some time not

they die in 4 days after first showing signs of being alone

so watch your chicks daily and note any who are doing these things

and they get it about a week after being put on the ground
the soil can have 9 kinds of coccidiosis
one kind is only treated with sulmet
the others are treated with corrid


Good luck with your babies. Hope they are all doing better this evening!

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I do think a light is a good idea and the roosts too. Can you post some pics?

 

[Maryallison]

Thanks for the replies cmom. I took the pics now just gotta get them on here.

All the info is very helpful CityGirlintheCountry. I am really hoping we were just overcrowed or scared or something. After having sick adult chickens I may have a breakdown if I end up with more sickness.

The chicks are eatting very well. They have been on the ground for a few week though & before this had never touched the ground. Poos seems normal and no ruffeled feathers (no more ruffeled then normal...1/2 are frizzles) So please think happy thoughts for me. I am gonna write down the name of the meds and pick it up anyways. Just in case, dosen't hurt to have it onhand.


SO today I got it all done and it looks GREAT! I made a solid floor. I was amazed I did so well!

I made 1 long roost across the whole back, I knocked down the dividing wall in the middle that seperated the 2 sides & I made steps & I added the inside light. My whole day was with the chickens. I feel very acomplished.

At 9 pm I checked the chickens and I had them in seperate areas. They looked more spread out. I am really hoping all this helps. I love my chicks so much. I will keep a very close eye on the chicks (like I always do) Now after all this work I have done I will know if I need to give them meds if I notice any other chicks with problems.

 

[Judy]

Sounds great! Wish I knew what worked! I really like that they looked "more spread out." That sounds like just what you were after.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I am thinking very happy thoughts for you! I'm hoping they are all happy, zippy little chicks tomorrow. I totally understand about dealing with more and more illness. It just wears on you!

Keep us posted!

 

[Brindlebtch]

Best wishes for you, yours and your chicks!

 

[Maryallison]

Thanks for all the happy chicken thoughts.....maybe just maybe I did something right. They were all happy chicks this morning! I ran outside again before even feeding my kids!

I turned the light off after they had all hoped out. By all the poo on the roost I can tell it was used!

My dh works by a TSC so I am gonna have him pick up a few of the meds. I am figuring they are good to have on hand. I own a rabbitry too and we keep meds for the rabbits. Didn't know chickens needed them till I went through all this.

 

[Maryallison]

Ok....here come the pics I promised. Started to upload last night, but we had some huge thunderstorms and I lost my internet connection!

this is my mini coop area. This is just a temporary area set up for young chicks. By the time they are laying dh should have the new giant fort knox coop ready! We use the metal fencing to keep dogs away. Many neighbors with dogs around here.

closeup of the mini coop. We recycled it from a old rabbit hutch. We had taken the legs off and put it closer to the ground so chicks are able to get in and out easily.

 

[Maryallison]

here is a pic of all the work I did yesterday....light, roost, floor

and here is me covered in chick poo and after a hard day of working! After awhile I gave up on the idea of being clean

 

[Maryallison]

Just a quick post to say all the chicks were ok again this morning!

I really hope all my hard work paid off and they are gonna be happy at night now!