A Lonely Desperado!

[Sick Birds]

Quote: Are you sure that there wasn't a bacteria that came off the watermelon that caused it? We have been feeding excessive amounts to them EVERY day. They were not eating any grain, strictly produce. My Mom was concerned that it might be a little too coincidental to not be the watermelon.....
Thanks so much!

 

[Tamara119]

Yep, sounds like coccidiosis. You'll see improvement very quickly once you've put them on corid or another cocci-specific med. Hand feed them if necessary, but you'll beat this! If, by some chance you don't see obvious improvement in the first 24 hours of treatment, then definitely try something else, and quick. I had cocciodisis in only one chick, and I only caught it once he was pretty far gone; wings drooping and sitting directly under the heat lamp. I hand-fed him medicated water and food that night, and in the morning he was some better, and by the end of the day with more hand-feeding he was coming out to be with his buddies. I still hand-fed him the medicated water and feed for 2 more days to make sure he got enough of the meds. The other chicks at the time never showed symptoms; the meds in the feed and water worked like a charm.
Don't stop feeding them watermelon

 

[casportpony]

It could be a bacterial infection, coccidiosis, worms or all three. In any case, you'll need medication. What you should do is FedEx a dead body to the Georgia necropsy lab or take a sick one to the vet and have it looked at.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Is the watermelon fresh enough that you would eat it? If not, stop feeding it! NEVER feed rotten, moldy food to poultry.

-Kathy

 

[Tamara119]

Pretty sure it's cocci, but if the corid doesn't work then you'll have to consider bacterial and get them on a broad-spectrum antibiotic. They're dying fast though, so get some corid into them.
Although this sounds like coccidiosis, you may end up with other problems if they continue to eat only produce. Are they getting a balanced crumble? They need a high-protein balance feed; produce should just be the extra treats. If they are getting whole grains they'll need some grit too to help them mechanically digest the grain. Just a bit of sand will do, or chick grit from the supply store.

 

[casportpony]

Georgia lab:
http://www.vet.uga.edu/dlab/

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

This is how I send one for a necropsy:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

-Kathy

 

[Sick Birds]

I gave them some wormer and electrolytes for cows, horses, poultry, and dogs. Any other suggestions?

 

[Tamara119]

If you want your chicks to live you must give them a medicine for coccidiosis, such as corid. Based on the symptoms you've provided, coccidiosis is most likely. Next possibility is bacterial, if cocci treatment doesn't help.

 

[casportpony]

I gave them some wormer and electrolytes for cows, horses, poultry, and dogs. Any other suggestions?

How many people have suggested Corid? And that watermelon, was it good enough for peopl to eat?

-Kathy