Any other disease that presents as coccidiosis but isn't? Urgent help needed!

[spatulagirl]

I had my first outbreak of cocci ever in my indoor chicks a few weeks ago. I lost 5 total, one a full week after finishing treating them with Corid.

Now it "appears" I have two four week olds affected with it in the grow out pen. I treated everyone but no one else showed symptoms. I lost the girl on Saturday and now it looks as though my son's roo Roger isn't going to make it. Letharic, ruffled feathers, hunched over back...

I have been treating them since Saturday and there has been no improvement. If anything he seems worse. I dipped his beak in straight Corid yesterday three times and did it again this morning but his balance seems off this morning. He is new to the flock (picked him up at the MD Poultry Swap) and he doesn't look like he is going to make it. My son is away at camp and is going to be devastated if he comes home and Roger is dead.

Anyone have any ideas? All the other chicks and juvies look awesome. The other girl we bought as part of a trio is flourishing.

 

[speckledhen]

Hard to say. There are mutated forms of coccidiosis that require double dosing with Corid, per necropsy reports of two different friends. Those types are not one of the 9 named types of cocci and can actually come from the parent stock. Chicks don't even have to touch soil.

I'm not saying that's what it is, mind you, but it's a possibility. Did Roger and the chicks come from the same place? If not, you may have more than one thing going on here.

 

[spatulagirl]

The two sick birds came from the same place. We have had them two weeks. We bought them from a BYC Forum member and I have PM'd her asking what she thought with a link to this thread.

What would double dosing Corid mean? I am dipping his beak in it three times a day plus it is in the water AND they have medicated food.

 

[speckledhen]

The usual dose is 2 teaspoons in a gallon of water. Double would mean 4 teaspoons in a gallon.

Medicated feed is not really going to help, the amount of amprolium in there is so low, so you don't even count that.


I'm not even sure it's cocci, to tell the truth. It's really hard to diagnose with just those symptoms. Was there bloody poop with the chicks? Is the rooster older? Could he have worms?

 

[spatulagirl]

No bloody poop. He just looks like the chicks did when they had cocci. Should I try deworming him? He seriously doesn't look like he is going to make it.

Like I said, he has ruffled feathers, is sleeping standing up, hunched over and by himself. When I let the chicks out this morning, everyone ran out except him. He did drink water and has been eating and drinking.

 

[pips&peeps]

Could be e-coli, mareks or many other diseases.

 

[speckledhen]

Jean is right. That's the thing, so hard to say what is going on with vague symptoms.

 

[peachick]

yes, I was going to ask if you are sure of the diagnosis...
I would de worm him for sure... but if hes that weak already get some food in him ASAP even if you have to syringe some mush down his throat....

 

[spatulagirl]

Just got home with Wazine and vitamins/electrolytes for him. I am going to check if he is still alive. He was eating and drinking last night and a bit this morning but I will try to get something more into him. No other birds are coming down with any sort of illness as of yet and it has been about 5 or 6 days. Just the two new young birds.

 

[spatulagirl]

Ugh, he died while we were out