6 week old chicks showing signs of illness in a few

[lifetimechicklover]

Oh that’s just an empty bucket I was using to sit on so I could sit and watch lol. It has some dried concrete on it and was just used for pouring water in concrete mix like last year.

I was able to get it from GA poultry lab. I had to drive 3 hours away and drop them off. Results where back in 5 hours. Necropsy results where that's it's Coccidiosis and the doctor said there was a High count of some other protozoic parasite that he said in 30 years he's never seen that may be a factor and will have to send to a pathologist.... I need to see if I can go find Oxytetracycline and Amprolium and treat them soon as possible and disinfect everything... I have no idea what to disinfect with that won’t be harmful to such young birds though.

Sometimes a can or bucket can be the best seat in the house,"or coop". I am so sorry that all of this happened as soon as you got them. You would think the previous owner would have signs of this in his flock. I hope and pray that your next ones will be healthy and may they bring you and your children much happiness.

 

[christwodog]

Good job on getting them to the lab so you know how to proceed. My state lab is over 3 hours away and I've driven there at least 3 times to drop off dead birds. Once was at midnight on a Saturday in a holiday weekend. The university always has someone on call.

I wouldn't use oxytetracycline. The necropsy didn't show anything that it could cure.

Of the many species of Eimeria (causing coccidiosis), 9 species affect chickens. There are also other protozoa that infect chickens. Cryptosporidium baileyi, Histomonas meleagridis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trichomonas plus a couple blood protozoa. Let us know if it was any of those when the final results are in.

As for disinfecting, oocysts are sensitive to ammonia so I might use that. But they also need moisture to survive. so I wouldn't use anything with water in it unless you get the brooder bone dry. They don't survive long in dry conditions, below freezing or at temperatures above 130F.

This really sounds like something I would like to never deal with! What do you recommend as far as preventative steps? I currently have 12- 1 week olds, they are doing fine as far as I can tell.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

This really sounds like something I would like to never deal with! What do you recommend as far as preventative steps? I currently have 12- 1 week olds, they are doing fine as far as I can tell.

Some people take a small sample of sod from the poultry yard and place it in the brooder.
I don't do that but I can see the logic in giving chicks a small dose of oocysts, encouraging resistance development.
After many years of raising thousands of chicks, I can honestly say, I've only dealt with coccidiosis twice and never lost a single chick to that issue. As I said, coccidia oocysts can't survive in dry conditions. The oocyst is basically an egg that contains eight coccidia and when the oocyst is crushed in the bird's gizzard, those spores are released, lodge in the bird's intestinal wall and begin reproducing.
It is well known that probiotics tend to control gastrointestinal pathogens through multiple mechanisms.
My approach is simple. I don't use medicated feed but do have Corid on hand should the need arise.
First, I add probiotics to the chicks' first water and for the next few weeks.
I use http://gro2max.com/ powder as well as Nutri-Drench to give a nutrient boost.
Secondly, I keep bedding bone dry and keep feeders full to limit consuming feces.

 

[christwodog]

Some people take a small sample of sod from the poultry yard and place it in the brooder.
I don't do that but I can see the logic in giving chicks a small dose of oocysts, encouraging resistance development.
After many years of raising thousands of chicks, I can honestly say, I've only dealt with coccidiosis twice and never lost a single chick to that issue. As I said, coccidia oocysts can't survive in dry conditions. The oocyst is basically an egg that contains eight coccidia and when the oocyst is crushed in the bird's gizzard, those spores are released, lodge in the bird's intestinal wall and begin reproducing.
It is well known that probiotics tend to control gastrointestinal pathogens through multiple mechanisms.
My approach is simple. I don't use medicated feed but do have Corid on hand should the need arise.
First, I add probiotics to the chicks' first water and for the next few weeks.
I use http://gro2max.com/ powder as well as Nutri-Drench to give a nutrient boost.
Secondly, I keep bedding bone dry and keep feeders full to limit consuming feces.

Ok, thank you - sounds like what I have been doing all along. I give probiotic water for the first 2 days, then go to plain water but maybe I should do more probiotic water? I don't feed medicated food, I have Corid on hand just in case, but have never used it. I have never used to gro2max powder, but I think I'll get some. I only use Nutri Drench if I see one that looks a little weaker than the others. I have only raised 2 batches of chicks, on my 3rd now - thanks for the input!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I forgot to mention that if you add probiotics to the water, that it would be a good idea to dechlorinate city/county water or use bottled water. Chlorine/chloramine kills bacteria - even the good stuff.

 

[christwodog]

I forgot to mention that if you add probiotics to the water, that it would be a good idea to dechlorinate city/county water or use bottled water. Chlorine/chloramine kills bacteria - even the good stuff.

No problem there, I have well water (which has been tested recently). Thanks!