3 week old lethargic chick

[whitneywpanetta]

I am a new chicken owner, and recently got four chicks, 2-3 weeks old. Unfortunately we lost our Rhode Island Red chick Thursday night/Friday morning. She had been lethargic for the past day or two, wasn't growing compared to the others, and was never as active. I tried giving her sugar water, a little bit of hardboiled egg for protein, and separated her. They are all on Tucker feed, which supposedly medicates against cocci.

Last night one of my other typically active chicks, a red sexlink, started to appear lethargic. She has been sleeping more, sleeps while she stands, and droops her head. When I look in their bin the other two chicks eyes are open wide looking at me, but she is still dropping off to sleep. The other two chicks are as active as ever. I have separated her, and she has perked up a little since then, but is still sleeping a lot and has been chirping loudly even though the temperature is just under 90. Her poop looks normal, solid brown with a little white. I have a large plastic tub with pine shavings in the bottom, with a light on one end, their feed and water on another end.

It is possible I am just being paranoid since we already lost one chick, but I want to make sure I don't lose another, she is one of my favorites! Is there anything I can purchase to help, or anything around the house I can use, can you take a chick to a vet? Thanks so much for your help!!

 

[realsis]

sounds like it could be coccidosis. please look up symptoms and remember bloody poo isn't always present until later . good news is cocci can be successfully treated with CORID. corid is best because it kills ALL 9 strains of cocci as other meds only kill some strains. I've seen corid save many lives. if the chick isn't drinking as it should be give the medicated water in a dropper CAREFULLY! with cocci time is of essence so if you notice the lethargy and ruffled feathers and excessive sleepiness start treatment asap. medicated feed is NOT a treatment for cocci it just helps prevent it however they can still get cocci on the medicated feed. if you notice the symptoms I'd absolutely treat with corid. knowing medicated feed is NOT a treatment for cocci and just a preventive. so take a look at coccidosis online see if you agree symptoms match knowing that bloody stool can come later in the infection.. I'd start the corid
you can purchase it at the feed store or similar. i don't think your being paranoid about this.i do hope this was helpful and do wish you the best of luck. if she were mine and displaying the beginning symptoms of cocci I'd start corid asap. If you cant specifically find corid look for amprol. its basically the same.they are BOTH Amprolium and a coccidiostat.(cures cocci) its a 5 day treatment. best wishes

 

[casportpony]

sounds like it could be coccidosis. please look up symptoms and remember bloody poo isn't always present until later . good news is cocci can be successfully treated with CORID. corid is best because it kills ALL 9 strains of cocci as other meds only kill some strains. I've seen corid save many lives. if the chick isn't drinking as it should be give the medicated water in a dropper CAREFULLY! with cocci time is of essence so if you notice the lethargy and ruffled feathers and excessive sleepiness start treatment asap. medicated feed is NOT a treatment for cocci it just helps prevent it however they can still get cocci on the medicated feed. if you notice the symptoms I'd absolutely treat with corid. knowing medicated feed is NOT a treatment for cocci and just a preventive. so take a look at coccidosis online see if you agree symptoms match knowing that bloody stool can come later in the infection.. I'd start the corid
you can purchase it at the feed store or similar. i don't think your being paranoid about this.i do hope this was helpful and do wish you the best of luck. if she were mine and displaying the beginning symptoms of cocci I'd start corid asap. If you cant specifically find corid look for amprol. its basically the same.they are BOTH Amprolium and a coccidiostat.(cures cocci) its a 5 day treatment. best wishes

Some can have coccidiosis without *ever* having blood. I think it depends more on the strain of coccidia and where it's located in the intestines. I had necropsies done on three peachicks that *never* had any blood, yet they they still died.

 

[casportpony]

I am a new chicken owner, and recently got four chicks, 2-3 weeks old. Unfortunately we lost our Rhode Island Red chick Thursday night/Friday morning. She had been lethargic for the past day or two, wasn't growing compared to the others, and was never as active. I tried giving her sugar water, a little bit of hardboiled egg for protein, and separated her. They are all on Tucker feed, which supposedly medicates against cocci.

Last night one of my other typically active chicks, a red sexlink, started to appear lethargic. She has been sleeping more, sleeps while she stands, and droops her head. When I look in their bin the other two chicks eyes are open wide looking at me, but she is still dropping off to sleep. The other two chicks are as active as ever. I have separated her, and she has perked up a little since then, but is still sleeping a lot and has been chirping loudly even though the temperature is just under 90. Her poop looks normal, solid brown with a little white. I have a large plastic tub with pine shavings in the bottom, with a light on one end, their feed and water on another end.

It is possible I am just being paranoid since we already lost one chick, but I want to make sure I don't lose another, she is one of my favorites! Is there anything I can purchase to help, or anything around the house I can use, can you take a chick to a vet? Thanks so much for your help!!

I agree with realsis, start your chick(s) on Corid (amprolium) asap. Can you post a picture of its poop?

 

[realsis]

Some can have coccidiosis without *ever* having blood. I think it depends more on the strain of coccidia and where it's located in the intestines. I had necropsies done on three peachicks that *never* had any blood, yet they they still died.

YES very very true! this was my point i should have worded it a bit differently but yes bloody poo is NOT always present you are correct! also dependant on which strains of the 9 are present. thank you for clearing this up. my wording should have been more clear. bloody poo sometimes comes later in the infection; or sometimes NOT at all!

 

[casportpony]

YES very very true! this was my point i should have worded it a bit differently but yes bloody poo is NOT always present you are correct! also dependant on which strains of the 9 are present. thank you for clearing this up. my wording should have been more clear. bloody poo sometimes comes later in the infection; or sometimes NOT at all!

 

[whitneywpanetta]

Thank you to everyone for replying to my post! I will upload a picture of her poop next time I see it happen. I called around to vets and feed stores trying to find corid (I live in Atlanta and good stores are hard to find). Everyone was either out or had never heard of it. I spoke with one person at Tractor Supply Co. and she recommended Duramycin since they were out of corid. I went ahead and purchased that and mixed it into her water. I also picked up some vitamins and electrolytes to mix in with her food. Earlier this afternoon she seemed more active, but now she seems a little more lethargic again compared to the other chicks. The medicine is added to her food and water, hopefully I will see her back to her normal self soon.

If anyone knows anything about Duramycin let me know, or if this really isn't the right medication for this situation let me know... this is a crash course in chicken raising for me. Thanks again for all of the comments!

 

[casportpony]

Thank you to everyone for replying to my post! I will upload a picture of her poop next time I see it happen. I called around to vets and feed stores trying to find corid (I live in Atlanta and good stores are hard to find). Everyone was either out or had never heard of it. I spoke with one person at Tractor Supply Co. and she recommended Duramycin since they were out of corid. I went ahead and purchased that and mixed it into her water. I also picked up some vitamins and electrolytes to mix in with her food. Earlier this afternoon she seemed more active, but now she seems a little more lethargic again compared to the other chicks. The medicine is added to her food and water, hopefully I will see her back to her normal self soon.

If anyone knows anything about Duramycin let me know, or if this really isn't the right medication for this situation let me know... this is a crash course in chicken raising for me. Thanks again for all of the comments!

The person at TSC should be fired, she sold you an antibiotic, you need a cocci-stat! Good Lord, what an idiot she is... Corid (amprolium) is in the cattle section.

 

[whitneywpanetta]

Oh goodness, I will call around again today to see if I can track down corid, or I will just order it. This is way I joined this forum, you never know if the info you are getting is right! Thanks again I will keep you guys posted.

 

[whitneywpanetta]

My chick seems to be doing better! She has been moving and flapping a lot more, and eating like crazy. I still plan on picking up corid today, just in case. Would you guy s recommend I give her a dose anyway or wait until she exhibits possible signs of cocci again?