Bloody Stools... all feed stores are closed

[his4ever]

Starting yesterday, one of my chicks started showing signs of bloody stools. I went yesterday to a feed store in my area, but she gave me medication for cows/sheep/goats. I do not feel risky enough to even try using it and I do not think that medication would fix their problem anyways. Anything I can do for my chicks until tomorrow? They are over 8 weeks old. Still eating and drinking. The stool has become more just blood and urine. Thanks.

 

[speckledhen]

Was the medication Corid? If so, that is what you use. And if so, is it 20% powder or 9.6% liquid solution? If the liquid, use 2 teaspoons (9-10 ml/cc) in a gallon waterer, changed daily, for 5 days, no more than 7.

There is no cocci med for poultry, technically, except maybe Sulmet, which is not the preferred first line of defense.

With feed stores, you usually need to research what you need and tell them, not ask them. Most don't know much and will give you antibiotics like Duramycin for cocci when it's not even a bacteria in the first place.

 

[his4ever]

Thanks for your reply! She gave me neomycin. You're supposed to do 1/4t. for every 25lbs! It's not the right thing I've learned my lesson. Now I feel like time is wasting and my hands are tied. I'm calling out to my chicken owning friends on facebook to see if any of them have some medication on hand. The vets do not want to sell me anything unless I make an appointment, and it's $100 for a weekend visit.

Is it ok once I get my hands on some medication, to feed it to all the chicks, since I am not sure who the sick one is?

 

[speckledhen]

Neomycin is NOT the right med, no. You don't need a vet for this. In fact, most know nothing about chickens anyway.

Take the med back and educate that employee about coccidiosis. Tell them a breeder told you that NO antibiotic is for cocci, that it is caused by a protozoan, similar to what would cause intestinal distress when a person drinks untreated water and gets giardia-maybe she'll understand that. And that you are to use only Corid. There is also a product, same ingredient, called Cocci-Rid. They both are concentrated amprolium. Sulmet doesn't fix all 9 types of cocci and you have no idea which is affecting them; it's a sulfa drug.

You must treat the entire group of chicks. If one has cocci, they all do. Some show worse symptoms than others. Get the liquid Corid, or powdered if they don't have the liquid. If they have neither, Sulmet would have to do, though it's harder on the intestines. If a pal can let you have a 1/4 cup of Corid, that would be swell.

In the meantime, give them probiotics like plain yogurt or even add some nonfat powdered milk to the starter crumble (old farmers cure, though may not actually cure, just soothe the intestines a bit).

 

[his4ever]

YAY! Thanks, just in case no one in my area has anything, I need something to get them through the night. I will go out and get some yogurt. Thanks!

 

[dawg53]

YAY! Thanks, just in case no one in my area has anything, I need something to get them through the night. I will go out and get some yogurt. Thanks!

Corid is found in the cattle section at the feed store. If you cant find any, go to the grocery store and purchase a small box of powdered milk. Then sprinkle the powder on the feed for them to eat, dont wet it. It'll slow down the effects of the protozoa until you can get corid. Use sulmet as a last resort as mentioned by Speckledhen.

 

[his4ever]

Thanks! I've given them both the powered milk and yogurt. Looking forward to the feed store being open tomorrow.