- Apr 23, 2010
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I'm raising chicks for the first time, I have 14 total - 10 of various breeds that I purchased about 3 weeks ago and 4 "Araucanas" (might be EEs) that I purchased from the same feed store about 2 weeks ago. All have been living in a brooder together on clean pine shavings, I replace the bedding on a daily basis (sometimes more often) as they really have a knack for emptying out their waterer.
As of yesterday afternoon they all seemed to be thriving, but when I got home around 6 pm I noticed that one of the EEs was huddling at the edge of the brooder instead of running around with the others when I gave them treats (have been giving them bits of salad and grass from outside, very small pieces of assorted grains and occasionally some plain yogurt, I provide them some small grit also). I kept checking on her and she didn't perk up at all, I also noticed for the first time that she is considerably smaller now than the other 3 EEs that are the same age - they appear to have grown a lot more in the last couple days, her feather development seems to be lagging behind now too. She doesn't appear to have any injuries, and I don't feel a full crop or anything (though I am no expert!).
I isolated her last night because she was trying to nestle under the bigger chicks and was getting run over, after reading a lot of the posts on this forum I'm pretty sure she's got coccidiosis - she is very lethargic, is huddling and making a what I'd describe as a shivery, trilling chirp. She doesn't try to run when I pick her up, her legs seem weak and she's had some watery stools (I have not seen any bloody stools from her or the others). I picked up some 9.6% Corid liquid this morning and put 10cc in a gallon of water, I've been giving her a few drops of this through a straw every 20 min or so and also used it to make a mash of her usual feed (Start & Grow Medicated). If put in front of the mash and left undisturbed she will eat a little then doze off, so I'm hopeful that she's at least getting some nutrition and enough medicine to get the cocci under control, if that's what's causing this. She ate a little plain yogurt last night when I put it up to her beak, but I've now read that may make the problem worse so I have been offering her only medicated water, mash and dry crumbles.
If it is cocci, do you think I caught it early enough for her to survive? She doesn't seem any worse off than yesterday, but she doesn't seem any better either. Is there anything else you would do to make her more comfortable or help her fight the infection? Does this seem like it might be anything other than cocci?
I have also started giving the medicated water to the other 13 ladies in the brooder, although they all seem very robust and active - from what I've read Corid is relatively safe and I'd rather not wait until symptoms start developing, because I'm sure they have been exposed. I have also stopped all treats and am restricting them to water and medicated crumbles. I also replaced all the bedding in the brooder after isolating the little EE. Does this sound reasonable? Is there anything else I should do to prevent the rest of them from getting sick?
Sorry to bombard you all with questions - thanks for your help, and for all the wonderful information already on this forum. I've been lurking here for weeks.
Sara
***UPDATE*** I was hopeful that she would pull through after she ate yesterday, but she seemed to really decline during the evening and was totally unresponsive unless we disturbed her, even then she wouldn't open her eyes. She passed away overnight. So sad to have lost this little one, she was so sweet and would have been a beautiful hen. If any of you have any ideas of what this could have been please share them, I want to make sure my other 13 girls are protected if it's something they could catch. I'm still assuming cocci (though no bloody poop) and giving 2 tsp per gallon 9.6% Corid to all the chicks in their water, hope this is helping them and not hurting.
As of yesterday afternoon they all seemed to be thriving, but when I got home around 6 pm I noticed that one of the EEs was huddling at the edge of the brooder instead of running around with the others when I gave them treats (have been giving them bits of salad and grass from outside, very small pieces of assorted grains and occasionally some plain yogurt, I provide them some small grit also). I kept checking on her and she didn't perk up at all, I also noticed for the first time that she is considerably smaller now than the other 3 EEs that are the same age - they appear to have grown a lot more in the last couple days, her feather development seems to be lagging behind now too. She doesn't appear to have any injuries, and I don't feel a full crop or anything (though I am no expert!).
I isolated her last night because she was trying to nestle under the bigger chicks and was getting run over, after reading a lot of the posts on this forum I'm pretty sure she's got coccidiosis - she is very lethargic, is huddling and making a what I'd describe as a shivery, trilling chirp. She doesn't try to run when I pick her up, her legs seem weak and she's had some watery stools (I have not seen any bloody stools from her or the others). I picked up some 9.6% Corid liquid this morning and put 10cc in a gallon of water, I've been giving her a few drops of this through a straw every 20 min or so and also used it to make a mash of her usual feed (Start & Grow Medicated). If put in front of the mash and left undisturbed she will eat a little then doze off, so I'm hopeful that she's at least getting some nutrition and enough medicine to get the cocci under control, if that's what's causing this. She ate a little plain yogurt last night when I put it up to her beak, but I've now read that may make the problem worse so I have been offering her only medicated water, mash and dry crumbles.
If it is cocci, do you think I caught it early enough for her to survive? She doesn't seem any worse off than yesterday, but she doesn't seem any better either. Is there anything else you would do to make her more comfortable or help her fight the infection? Does this seem like it might be anything other than cocci?
I have also started giving the medicated water to the other 13 ladies in the brooder, although they all seem very robust and active - from what I've read Corid is relatively safe and I'd rather not wait until symptoms start developing, because I'm sure they have been exposed. I have also stopped all treats and am restricting them to water and medicated crumbles. I also replaced all the bedding in the brooder after isolating the little EE. Does this sound reasonable? Is there anything else I should do to prevent the rest of them from getting sick?
Sorry to bombard you all with questions - thanks for your help, and for all the wonderful information already on this forum. I've been lurking here for weeks.
Sara
***UPDATE*** I was hopeful that she would pull through after she ate yesterday, but she seemed to really decline during the evening and was totally unresponsive unless we disturbed her, even then she wouldn't open her eyes. She passed away overnight. So sad to have lost this little one, she was so sweet and would have been a beautiful hen. If any of you have any ideas of what this could have been please share them, I want to make sure my other 13 girls are protected if it's something they could catch. I'm still assuming cocci (though no bloody poop) and giving 2 tsp per gallon 9.6% Corid to all the chicks in their water, hope this is helping them and not hurting.
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