5th chick dying in my hands right now - help!

[familypendragon]

Well the chick died while I was gone It climbed out of the container I left it wrapped up in and crapped its final poo all over some previously important paperwork on my desk before passing. I took a picture in case it helps identify the issue of maybe coccidiosis. The good news is that after reading about the infectious enchephalomyelitis I am pretty sure at least it isn't that. They don't have any of the progressive paralysis or anything till they are dying. Most are fine - walking and running etc until within a few hours of dropping dead. I had a @ 2 week old splash Isbar acting droopy when we were out there vaccinating today and when we were done I brought her in the house to examine her. I noticed gasping, opened her mouth and it appeared she had crumbles stuffed into her throat and choking her with only the tiniest amount of air getting through. I got a q-tip and was able to remove giant clumps from the back of her tongue and all the way to the back of her throat. It is possible that these were some kind of puss pocket I suppose, but I tend to think they actually were stuck food. When I got all of them out I could see she was still having trouble breathing and I felt a lump in her throat. I massaged it and let her drink a little olive oil (read somewhere that might help??) She started gasping more. I actually opened her beak and gave her a little rescue breath to see if I could force it down. It actually seemed to work. She swallowed hard and then chirped at me and finally opened both eyes and looked at me in shock, LOL! I put her in an extra brooder box inside in the hall way away from the main brooder that has 2 hatchlings in it with more on the way. I still don't know what all might be wrong with her or if she'll make it but at least she is no longer gasping or choking. Her crop is empty and her belly seems empty. I gave her some wetted down crumbles in there in hopes they will be easier for her to eat but so far she just wants to sleep. I gave her a drop of b12 in hopes it perks her up a little, but we'll see.

Gross poop picture warning


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[casportpony]

Sorry for your loss...

Wow, that is bad! Coccidiosis would be my first guess, followed by necrotic enteritis and possibly blackhead, but I would have to see more poop samples to say blackhead. Do you have any Corid? If so, I would start the remaining chicks on the .024% treatment for 5-7 days, which is 1.5 teaspoons of the powder or 2 teaspoons of the liquid.

FDA recommendations:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/details.cfm?dn=013-149
"Chickens
Indications: For the treatment of coccidiosis.
Amount: Administer at the 0.012 percent level in drinking water as soon as coccidiosis is diagnosed and continue for 3 to 5 days (in severe outbreaks, give amprolium at the 0.024 percent level); continue with 0.006 percent amprolium-medicated water for an additional 1 to 2 weeks."

And this link has these instructions:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html
"Poultry - as Soon As Caecal Coccidiosis Is Diagnosed, Give 0.024% Amprolium In The Drinking Water For 5 To 7 Days. Continue The Treatment With 0.006% Amprolium Medicated Water For An Additional One To Two Weeks. No Other Source Of Drinking Water Should Be Available To The Birds During This Time."

The .006% dose for Corid Powder is 1/3 teaspoon.
The .006% dose for Corid liquid is 1/2 teaspoon.

The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid Powder is 3/4 teaspoon.
The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid liquid is 1 teaspoon.

The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid Powder is 1.5 teaspoons
The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid liquid is 2 teaspoon.

-Kathy

 

[familypendragon]

Sorry for your loss...

Wow, that is bad! Coccidiosis would be my first guess, followed by necrotic enteritis and possibly blackhead, but I would have to see more poop samples to say blackhead. Do you have any Corid? If so, I would start the remaining chicks on the .024% treatment for 5-7 days, which is 1.5 teaspoons of the powder or 2 teaspoons of the liquid.

FDA recommendations:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/details.cfm?dn=013-149
"Chickens
Indications: For the treatment of coccidiosis.
Amount: Administer at the 0.012 percent level in drinking water as soon as coccidiosis is diagnosed and continue for 3 to 5 days (in severe outbreaks, give amprolium at the 0.024 percent level); continue with 0.006 percent amprolium-medicated water for an additional 1 to 2 weeks."

And this link has these instructions:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html
"Poultry - as Soon As Caecal Coccidiosis Is Diagnosed, Give 0.024% Amprolium In The Drinking Water For 5 To 7 Days. Continue The Treatment With 0.006% Amprolium Medicated Water For An Additional One To Two Weeks. No Other Source Of Drinking Water Should Be Available To The Birds During This Time."

The .006% dose for Corid Powder is 1/3 teaspoon.
The .006% dose for Corid liquid is 1/2 teaspoon.

The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid Powder is 3/4 teaspoon.
The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid liquid is 1 teaspoon.

The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid Powder is 1.5 teaspoons
The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid liquid is 2 teaspoon.

-Kathy

I started them on Corid yesterday just in case. Just found this page about pox and now I think the stuff in the Isbar chick's throat WAS pox http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/lesion Horrific

 

[familypendragon]

OK the necrotic enteritis sounds about right... http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/101/necrotic-enteritis

So I have Tylan water soluble on hand - but I have Corid in the water already... MIX THEM?? Crappity crap crap

 

[casportpony]

I would, but that's how we do it around here, lol. My only concern would be that they might not drink the water, so just keep an eye on their intake.

-Kathy

 

[familypendragon]

I would, but that's how we do it around here, lol. My only concern would be that they might not drink the water, so just keep an eye on their intake.

-Kathy

OK, so it won't counter act or something crazy?? Doing it!

 

[casportpony]

OK, so it won't counter act or something crazy?? Doing it!

I don't recall seeing any drug interactions between the two in my Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook.

-Kathy

 

[familypendragon]

I don't recall seeing any drug interactions between the two in my Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook.

-Kathy

Hm, now THAT sounds like a handy book to have.... thank you for your help!

 

[casportpony]

Hm, now THAT sounds like a handy book to have.... thank you for your help!

It's my Bible, lol. Each drug has drug interations, side effects, all animals listed out, technical stuff and this:




-Kathy

 

[familypendragon]

The Isbar made it through the night after I cleared her throat. She was chirping this morning and drinking so I went ahead and put her back with the others. They have all already been exposed to all the same stuff anyway at this point. She ate a little and then laid down when she got in the brooder coop. Only time will tell I guess, but I will continue to check her throat and any others that look droopy like that. I made fresh water for everyone this morning. To each gallon nipple waterer I added 2 tsp of Corid and about 1/2 tsp of the Tylan powder. I had estimted last time I used it that about 2 tsp were good for 5 gallons of water so I think this should work. I found a pile of poop on top of one of the buckets that looked like it might be concerning. But right now what can I do except carry on what I am already doing and hope for the best? Meanwhile I have 3 new hatchlings in the brooder in the house. I am going to order more fowl pox vaccine and when the last egg has hatched I will vax all the new babies at once before they go outside. When should I (or should I) give them the Tylan/Corid? Should I wait till they go out to the outside brooder coop and then give everyone a 2nd round to be safe? I have 5 different waterers out there.