7 week old EE's- One sick!

[Shyde1982]

So I have 11 chickens about 2 months old. Purchased at TSC. 9 EE's and 2 RIR's.

Anyway, 2 of them appear to be banty's, and 9 are regular sized. One of the banty ones appeared sick 2 days ago. Fluffed out feathers, drooping wings (not dragging). I examined. There appeared to be some small blood spots on feathers around the belly, but I could not find any injury to the bird. Seems to be breathing normally, just kind of lethargic past two days. While the others were running around during the day she would be standing with eyes closed, feathers puffed out.

All the other birds seem fine. Very strong, healthy. They are in a large pen outdoors, with a large coop with no drafts at night, eating grower and chick feed non medicated. They have access to chick grit, food, water, sunshine, shade and all seem very happy. I picked up some duramycin today at TSC and am giving 1 TBSP per gallon as directed, to ALL the chickens. I tried separating the sick looking one but it stressed her out and I figured dosing them all couldn't hurt. They aren't laying eggs yet obviously. I'm aware that after duramycin usage ends, it is 21 days until you can eat eggs from treated hens, but they aren't laying yet so I'm not worried.

Does it sound like I'm doing the right thing? I'm mixing it with water for 7-10 days as directed. Hoping this helps the sick one.

 

[Uniontown Poultry]

Sounds like coccidiosis - the standing with droopy wings and feathers fluffed out sounds like you are describing "huddling" which is a classic sign of coccidiosis infection. Coccidiosis is a protozoan infection, and is treated with Sulmet or Corid in the water (relatively inexpensive and available at farm and feed stores). Bloody poop is another classic sign. Coccidiosis is common as heck in chicks - so common that the medicine in medicated food is a coccidiastat. Some birds in a flock may take a cocci infection worse than others, and some show no symptoms, so you have to treat them all. Chicks pick around in poop so much they are usually exposed to it before they are 5 months old. I hope this helps.

 

[Shyde1982]

I got duramycin. Will this help if it's coccidiosis? I checked them this morning, and will change the duramycin/water today and every day for a week, and the one who looked sick yesterday already seems improved.

 

[Uniontown Poultry]

I don't think duramycin will help against coccidiosis but I am not sure. Usually antibiotics target bacteria, and coccidia are protozoans. Of course, they may not have had coccidiosis after all, but instead had something else that responds beautofylly to duramycin!

When you raise animals that have no long history in general of getting veterinary care, there is not as great a "knowledge bank" as to the things that can go wrong with them and how to treat it. The important thing is that your chicks are getting better - that's what counts.

 

[dawg53]

Duramycin wont treat cocci if that's what it is. Corid is best for cocci.