Am I a failure

[lghrnlvr]

i stand by everything i said. if they were my chicks i would kill them and start over. why risk spreading a highly contagious disease in your yard when you can prevent it? thats like having dogs and bring another dog with parvo home. Not all coccidia is species specific. i had a great website explaining about coccidia but my phone is acting up and wont let me post it. i gave advice based on my own experiences and what i would do. i have to much money tied up in my dogs and chickens to knowingly let diseases spread. if you don't like what I have to say, you don't have to listen.

 

[Sarevan]

Wild birds can bring it in to your yard, no way keeping all wildlife out. I have found wild quail tearing up strawbales, sneaking into the run, chickadees and other lil birds perching on wire. I keep an eye on my hens for anything they may get from this contact.

When my new chicks are a bit older I am going to bring in a grass clump for them to attack so they get whatever is in our ground. Hopefully by the time they get moved outside permanently they will be immune from being in contact with what is in our ground.

Hope your chicks keep improving!

 

[sdm111]

You do not understand about coccidiosis. You DO NOT need to kill chicks!!!! Cocci is a parasitic infection of the intestinal tract. It is the leading cause of death among chicks,but is easily controlled using a coccidiostat. Cocci is spread by droppings,which get into feed/water via droppings(cocci thrives in brooder setups)but it is also spread by wild birds/bringing new birds into flock,your own hands/clothes/shoes/feed utensils,etc. Most birds have some cocci in their small intestines,ONLY becomes a problem if they have an overload/outbreak,then we use a coccidiostat to bring it under control. It is a parasitic infection NOT a contagious a disease.

Symptoms of coccidiosis are: runny/watery poop(may or may not contain blood,depends on which strain it is)fluffed feathers,lethargic,not eating/drinking properly. The key to preventing deaths is to administer a coccidiostat(all chicken keepers should keep a coccidiostat on hand) immediately,even if you only suspect cocci,treating with a coccidiostat will not harm chicks,but not treating will result in deaths. Birds are only immune to the strains they have had prior exposure to.

Purchase Corid(amprolium) or might be called Amprol(amprolium)depends where you live(Amprolium is the medication,but the brand names differ from country to country). Amprolium is a thiamine blocker,parasite needs thiamine to survive/reproduce,stop reproduction and parasite comes under control. Dose for Corid/Amprol 9.6% liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water,dose for Corid 20% powder is 1-1.5 tsp per gallon of water. Treat ALL chickens for 5 days,make sure medicated water is their ONLY source of drinking water. DO NOT give vitamins during treatment as they interfere with the ability of coccidiostat to work,give vitamins after treatment is complete.

For cleaning use diluted cleaning ammonia as bleach is not effective in killing parasite.

BOTTOM LINE, NO NEED TO KILL CHICKS and it is not necessary to burn anything!

NOTE: Coccidiosis is species specific,meaning that the cocci your chicks had is not the same cocci your dog/pups had. Pups are frequently infected with coccidia from the feces of their mother and are most likely to develop coccidiosis b/c of undeveloped immune system. Dog kennels/pounds/breeders etc do have outbreaks of coccidiosis,this is common.

Very well put cocci is very controllable. Hope you don't get a mercks outbreak now that's a problem

 

[sdm111]

And do put the chicks on the ground when they are old enough. You want to build their immune and cocci levels so they will grow strong and tolerate. If you keep them in a lack for a better term sterile environment when they are put in a coop they will be overwhelmed with ailments

 

[Sonya9]

The information presented is amazing! I can't thank this community enough.

I HAVE NOT KILLED MY TWO DOMINIKERS!

They are separate from my new chicks but are doing a little better. I will get poop pictures but it does not appear runny to me.

If your new chicks weren't already vaccinated have you put them on medicated feed? I would hope so!

Also Dominiques are fantastic aren't they? I have a 4 week old and she is the calmest sweetest chick of the bunch.

Did you bump up the heat in their brooder? If they are actually weak can you give them electrolytes or at least add a little sugar to the water? You want to keep their strength up, littles of any species can go down hill so very fast (as well as recover very fast), you don't want them to get weak and go off food or some such thing.

 

[ten chicks]

i stand by everything i said. if they were my chicks i would kill them and start over. why risk spreading a highly contagious disease in your yard when you can prevent it? thats like having dogs and bring another dog with parvo home. Not all coccidia is species specific. i had a great website explaining about coccidia but my phone is acting up and wont let me post it. i gave advice based on my own experiences and what i would do. i have to much money tied up in my dogs and chickens to knowingly let diseases spread. if you don't like what I have to say, you don't have to listen.

Again Coccidiosis is NOT a contagious disease and your information is incorrect and while i do not have to listen,you are giving false information to others by suggesting they kill their chicks. A cocci overload/outbreak can happen at ANY given time so what is the purpose in killing chicks,birds become immune to the strains they have had prior exposure to and if an overload occurs we treat them with a coccidiostat. Coccidiosis is always around,they reason your birds are healthy now is b/c they are immune to the strains in your yard,but all it takes is for a new strain to be carried to your place and your birds can have an overload/outbreak.

I'm guessing your personal problem was that you did not recognize the symptoms and had several chicks die. I personally have NEVER had any losses to coccidiosis,reason i understand how parasite works and know all the symptoms,if i see just one symptom i immediately start treatment,no waiting. I also use a preventative dose of amprolium when my birds are first placed outside.

Coccidiosis is nothing like parvo. Parvo is a virus and Coccidiosis is a parasite,huge difference.

 

[JaceAgain]

Thank you for all the fantastic info ten chicks, very informative and clarifying

 

[casportpony]

i stand by everything i said. if they were my chicks i would kill them and start over. why risk spreading a highly contagious disease in your yard when you can prevent it? thats like having dogs and bring another dog with parvo home. Not all coccidia is species specific. i had a great website explaining about coccidia but my phone is acting up and wont let me post it. i gave advice based on my own experiences and what i would do. i have to much money tied up in my dogs and chickens to knowingly let diseases spread. if you don't like what I have to say, you don't have to listen.

You're correct, we don't have to listen, but your advice could have cost the OP lots of money and heartache.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

i stand by everything i said. if they were my chicks i would kill them and start over. why risk spreading a highly contagious disease in your yard when you can prevent it? thats like having dogs and bring another dog with parvo home. Not all coccidia is species specific. i had a great website explaining about coccidia but my phone is acting up and wont let me post it. i gave advice based on my own experiences and what i would do. i have to much money tied up in my dogs and chickens to knowingly let diseases spread. if you don't like what I have to say, you don't have to listen.

The nine that chickens get are.

-Kathy

 

[poodlechicks]

I am replying to the original post. I don't know if what your chicks got was indeed cocci. I just wanted to add two things: 1) I don't think you're a failure. This could happen to anyone.
2) Make sure that the equipment you get from others are disinfected before you use them with your chicks.
I'm sorry for your loss and best of luck with the remaining ones