Blonde got sick and died in one hour!!!!

[RnRRidgerunner]

Sorry again for your loss. How old are your chickens? Blood in the stool can be a sign of coccidiosis, capillary worms, and enteritis. Cocci is most common between 3 and 20 weeks old, but chickens can get it at any age since new strains can be brought in on new chickens and shoes, tires, etc. What medication did the vet prescribe--corid or amprollium, or sulfa?

The Vet did not narrow it down to what it was exactly. We are treating it as a bacteria infection in the gut. I did not get the name of the drug as it was a portion of the bag that he measured out for me. It just says LS for chickens on it. I read in my "The Chicken Health Handbook" and it seems to be coccidiosis. I have one sick one that is passing bloody stool, but seems to be spry like she is fighting it off. I hand watered her twice and then again this evening. They drink from the palm of my hand as I let the water trickle from the water nipple. They will eat or drink anything I offer from my hand.
Hopefully she will be there in the morning.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Thanks everyone for your comments and support. I don't a have positive identification on the disease, that would have been over $125 for a complete lab work. too rich for me. I will check around for a perhaps free or more reasonable lab work. When you only have four chicks left from 6 it is too expensive. If I had a large flock then I would not hesitate to do it. There is emotion and then there is reality.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would go and get some Corid, or Sulfadimethoxine or Sulmet if you cannot find Corid in the cattle medicine section of your store. As far as I know, LS50 (lincomycin/spectinomycin) won't treat coccidiosis. Some antibiotics will, but I haven't seen anything about LS. Corid dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid per gallon of water for 5 days. Since you have had 2 die, I wouldn't delay.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

I would go and get some Corid, or Sulfadimethoxine or Sulmet if you cannot find Corid in the cattle medicine section of your store. As far as I know, LS50 (lincomycin/spectinomycin) won't treat coccidiosis. Some antibiotics will, but I haven't seen anything about LS. Corid dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid per gallon of water for 5 days. Since you have had 2 die, I wouldn't delay.

First and foremost thank you for the advice. I started these chicks on Purina starter and grow non-medicated. I was thinking "organic", but in retrospect the medicated feed would have prevented this from happening. A "new egg" mistake, lesson learned.
The medication the Vet gave (LS50) is part antibacterial and seems to be working so far. It is mostly for respiratory CHD. I am going in to Tractor supply later this evening and will be getting the "medicated" feed and Corid if they have it in stock. A phone call indicated it is off the shelf, but a truck came in last night and it may be in there. After all the great response from everyone I spent time researching your suggestions, and it all checks out in several sources. I will call the vet in the am to see if I should continue the LS50 or switch over to Corid treatment. Thank you again ya'll are great!!

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Did they have coccidiosis? That can kill and symptoms are bloody poop.

Yep! That seems to be it according to all I can find on line. I think the vet is a "mammal" vet, dogs, cats, horses, goats, cattle and the like specialist. He admitted that chickens are not his forte.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Wow! you are in the UK. I have a grandson over in Skipton. He just graduated there, 16 year old. Great kid. Interesting to have members of BYC all over the world then. lol Thanks!