8 week old lethargic chick with watery poops

[Winchikn]

Hello,

I have five 8-week old chicks and this morning one was hesitant to come off the roost. Broody hen has been in with them and has been getting cranky the last few days so I thought the chick was just avoiding her. Came out a few hours later and this chick was very lethargic - not really wanting to stand.

I took broody out and put her with the rest of my adult flock and have disinfected feeders/waterers with vinegar. Over the last 4-5 hours I have got the chick to eat very small amounts of crumble with water, dry crumble, a tiny bit of scrambled egg, and a bit of scratch. He/she is also drinking - has had some electrolyte mix and something called poultavit that we got from our local farmer's supply. My husband also picked up something that our farmer's supply stocks to treat coccidiosis in any livestock - called 'Germ-Zone'.

I can't find any sign of blood in the poops - just watery. The chick will walk around a bit but then sits or lies down. And he/she feels warm to me.

Questions...
- it's been rainy lately and there are also a lot of mice in the vicinity of the chick's coop - does the chick likely have coccidiosis or something else?
- he/she doesn't really want to eat or drink at all when isolated from the little flock - but should I isolate?
- broody has been sleeping and mostly with the chicks up to today but she is really tormenting them so I think it's better to have her away from the sick chick. Does this chick still need heat if we bring him/her in for the night?

Pic of chick, 5 min old chick poop, and medication ingredients below. We're in BC, Canada - nights are 5-10 celsuis (40-50) and some days still up to 19-20 (65 degrees or so).

Any advice much appreciated!

 

[Winchikn]

Also wondering if worms could be a possibility, and how to manage dosing with a med like this that we've put in water and the whole flock of chicks is now drinking.

 

[Winchikn]

Evening update that the chick has a decent appetite for food and water, just doesn't want to stand very long and is really tired. I have isolated for the night.

Given the leg weakness, I am wondering about Marek's and moldy food. Their feed is fine (18% grower crumble) but given how wet it has been, he/she may have gotten into something around the run.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would try to get amprol from a vet to treat for possible coccidiosis. You get it from a vet in Canada. They could also give you sulfa antibiotics instead. That is treatable, but Mareks is not. Try to make sure it is drinking plenty, and offer food often. Coccidiosis is common during this age and wet warm weather.

 

[Winchikn]

Thanks for this advice.

Will the medication we got from the farmer's supply do any good? Our local vet has a new policy against treating any farm animals, due to covid-related backlogs at their clinic. We may be able to get some Amrpol online but I fear it won't arrive in time.

Given the sick chook is now separated, should I treat the whole flock of chicks, or only the one showing symptoms?

And should I wake the chick to give fluids overnight, or let it sleep? Crop felt fairly full at bedtime about 1.5 hrs ago and everything is quiet in the brooder box serving as isolation unit for the night.

 

[Winchikn]

I have some leftover apo-sulfatrim (sulfameth/trimeth) 100/20mg on hand. Dose was 1/2 tablet by mouth twice daily for a good-sized hen of mine last summer. Should I try some of that until we can get Amprol?

 

[Avfields]

Not sure about country, but over here in the UK you can get amprolium hydrochloride without a prescription if you buy the stuff for racing pigeons (brand name is Harkers coxoid). If your vet won't do a fecal float to check for coccidiosis, you can check a sample yourself with a cheap microscope - you don't need a very high magnification. There are tutorials on BYC.

 

[Winchikn]

Thanks, @Avfields. I would definitely prefer to know what we're treating so will try to track down those tutorials as we have a decent microscope at home.

 

[Avfields]

Oh, also, if it is cocci - you should dose the whole flock, and clean everything as well as you can. Sometimes they don't show symptoms, but they can still act as amplifiers for the rest of the flock.

 

[Winchikn]

The watched chicken never poops...