A few questions about treating Cocci w/Sulmet

[catlikethief]

I STFA, but I'm probably doing it wrong ( I believe I woke up a bit stupid today) or it's not there. I have a questions about Cocci treatment.
My 5 wk old chicks are a few times a day having the bloody poop (Not just blood mixed with poop but red red blood). They are very active, eating drinking and all the things a 5wk chick does.
I started them along with my pullets on Sulmet last night.

If my chicks drink all their water or knock it over (1Lt.) is it ok to dose their water again in the same 24hr period?

Can I add the vitamins and electrolytes to the water with their medicine?
Do I just sprinkle the vitamins in the water, the bag is very vague, It only gives bulk feeding directions.

And the most confusing question, I saved for last:
When I called the farmer who supplied my feed store with these chicks. He said since they were actively drinking, eating along with playing and on top of that having some normal poops during the day. That maybe they don't have cocci and just need chick grit OR it could be stress from moving to a new home. Could there be truth to this?
I want to believe this, but my gut feeling says this guy is feeding me BS.

He does back his chicks 100% and offered to give me medicine or switch them for new chicks but who's to say the new ones aren't sick too ya know!?

They've never been in any of my soil, only in the coop for a short period with my pullets. But because my pullets do have some runny poop as a precaution I went along and started everyone on treatment.
Thanks a lot. I've leaned so many helpful things since my short time at this forum, I would be so lost without your guy's knowledge!!!

 

[dlhunicorn]

Can I add the vitamins and electrolytes to the water with their medicine?

No. The only thing that should be in their water is the medication, and this should be their only source of water to ensure they get enough of the med to be effective.

Electrolytes are only indicated directly after shipping (4-5 days in the water) or if the chicks are not drinking/suspected dehydration or shock. Otherwise you will not need electrolytes.​

 

[catlikethief]

Quote:
No. The only thing that should be in their water is the medication, and this should be their only source of water to ensure they get enough of the med to be effective.

Electrolytes are only indicated directly after shipping (4-5 days in the water) or if the chicks are not drinking/suspected dehydration or shock. Otherwise you will not need electrolytes.

Thank you for clearing that up for me!

 

[catlikethief]

So does anybody know how many times i can treat there water with sulmet per 24hr period?
They seem to enjoy knocking over the water container!

 

[SeaChick]

I'm treating with Sulmet right now and here's my take: You can refresh the sulmet water as many times as you want, as long as you mix it up fresh each time. In other words, if they knock over the waterer, remove it, dump it all out, mix a fresh batch, and replace it. They're going to receive the same dose they would have with the first batch.

The only thing to remember is to stick with the Sulmet schedule... for my dosage it's two days (48 hours) of full-dose sulmet water, then 4 days of half strength. I'm pretty sure it doesn;t matter how many times you make a fresh batch as long as they're being offered the specific concentration needed during each 24 hour period. And since you are SUPPOSED to make a fresh batch at least every 24 hours (no matter if they finish the first waterer full or not) I don't see how it can hurt to refresh it more often. Clear as mud?

I'm no vet, but that's my take on it.

HOWEVER I would be concerned about them tipping the waterer. I was told by the State Vet that any damp litter at all is a big issue when you have a cocci outbreak. He instructed us to keep the brooder as super-dry and super-clean as possible for a while. Can you rig the waterer so they won't tip it? I graduated our chicks to a larger, broader waterer (less tippy), raised it on bricks, and moved it against a wall where they're less likely to bump it. This has stopped them tipping it over. (I believe that a few days of them tipping it and wetting the bedding is what precipitated our cocci outbreak!)

On the bloody poops: did you get a fecal float test done? That is the best way to know for sure. I had a hard tiem finding a vet who'd do one on a bird but I fnally did. I am really glad I did. Bloody poops are NOT a normal thing, from my experience and reading.... I certainly wouldn't expect to see them from "stress"!!! Runny diarrhea maybe, but not blood!

 

[catlikethief]

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THANK YOU so much for answering my questions, I feel much more confident knowing this all!