4 wk old Rhode Island chicks dying

[Brahma Mamma]

I have almost 100 Rhode Island chicks that are almost 4 weeks old. The past 3 days they have started dying. Just one a day at first and now it seems a couple are dropping every couple of hours. They don't seem to have any respiratory symptoms and are eating and drinking. Some of their stool is dark or bloody. The "healthy" ones are chirping and active. Any ideas?

 

[sian]

I have no experience with RIRs but did u try cider apple vinegar in their water?

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

If there is blood in their stool then they have cocci. You need to get them started on Corid or Sulmet ASAP before you lose them all.

 

[Brahma Mamma]

No? What will that do?

 

[Brahma Mamma]

Chook-A-Holic : I will call the vet tommorow morning!!! Thank you.

 

[Brahma Mamma]

This is an update. For anyone reading this thread for future cocci breakouts. IF YOU SEE YOUR CHICKS START DYING AT AN ACCELERATED RATE (ours started one a day about 4 days ago and now it's up to 3 an hour) DON'T WAIT!!! GO AND GET SOME SULMET OR CORDI!!! My husband is racing back from the tractor supply that is an hour away. Meanwhile, our chicks are dropping like flies.

They don't have any symptoms other than bloody stool. CHECK YOUR STOOL every time you check them! We are brand new to chick raising and this is a mistake we will not make again. We have kept them in fresh bedding but did not wash the waterers regularly. We have 500 other birds that are about a month older (prepping them for free range laying) and have been completely overwhelmed. We also have been LUCKY this is our first serious health problem.

I'm guessing we're going to lose 90% of our RIR chicks or all of them. It doesn't look good. I am so very sad.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I wish you luck with this. Please keep us posted.

 

[Brahma Mamma]

Thank you for your timely advice! We have administered the Corid to their water (after thoroughly cleaning their waterers). We got a sterile syringe and administered some medicated water to the ones who were laying down. This takes two people. I opened the beak and my husband put water in them. It's been an hour and only one dead so far. They are chirping a little more now, so maybe that's a good sign. I will keep updating their progress.

 

[Brahma Mamma]

We have only lost one since my last post and only a couple are down. This is a vast improvement on the sick/death rate earlier today.

 

[Brahma Mamma]

It's 8:41pm and 3 more dead. But that's great for 3 hours! The rest are subdued but not sprawled on the bedding. So far so good.