Blood On Shavings 3-1 Day olds

[famerzellman]

I hatched my own eggs from my own flock and today i noticed blood on the shavings (like alot) no wounds on the baby chicks and they are on medicated feed. It seems like coccidiosis to me but they are not showing any other signs. Is it normal for such young chicks to get this? And how would they get it? Should i treat or does this happen sometimes? i've hatched my own eggs before and never had this happen. If i do have to treat what is the correct dosage for baby chicks and do i have to switch them off their medicated feed while treating?

Thanks

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It won't be coccidiosis as that takes time to develop. The coccidia protozoa are not passed from mom to chick through the egg. The chicks have to ingest the oocysts, then it takes about 14 days for that to develop into adults to lay the next oocysts. Levels have to rise until they impact the gut.

Overall, you won't see coccidiosis in chicks younger than about 4 weeks of age.

The blood was likely from an injury which you can't see. Also check their little bums. Omphalitis is infected navel that is common with young chicks. It presents as puffy abdomen with often unclosed infected navel. It is possible from internal bleeding from that.

Check the bottom of their feet. Tails.

It is also possible for it to have been intestinal lining, but in my experience young chicks don't pass a lot of stringy pink intestinal lining.

Pics would help especially if you see any more.

LofMc

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It really isn't normal and extremely unlikely for newly hatched chicks to have contracted a protozoal infection.
I would look for another cause.

 

[famerzellman]

thanks everyone i found two scabs in the fluff after the tears went away and i could truly think. i think my cat got his paw through the baby gate top and hooked one of the chicks when it was up on top of their heater. So i changed out the tote to make it deeper so he cant reach them! What a jerk!!
Thank you all for your advice!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IF I have chicks in the house, they are in a room with the door closed at all times. Cats won't hesitate to kill chicks. Our cats can jump up onto the refrigerator. A baby gate or tote wouldn't deter them.