Bought sick chicks from breeder. How do I handle this?

[TheFeatheredTempest]

Ugh, I hate awkward situations like this. I purchased chicks from a fellow BYC member and once I got them home realized they have coccidiosis and also are infected with lice.

This individual isn't a professional breeder but has plenty of experience with chickens (multiple breeds) and other poultry and has been breeding for several years. These chicks range in age from a week to a couple weeks and were all hatched in an incubator and kept in a brooder. I've had them a couple days now. They are being kept inside my house and haven't been exposed to anything. The container I have them set up in has never been used before. I don't even understand how they could have gotten lice? Were they housed in a dirty brooder? I drove some distance to pick these chicks up in person and met the breeder and everything. The breeder had to have known they had bloody stinky stools but said nothing. One chick has died already. I will be at the store tomorrow buying supplies to treat the rest and hope that they make it

What do I say to this person, if anything? Do I ask for a refund? I did not drive all that way to buy sick chicks!

The worst part is that I'm already attached to them and will be very sad if they don't make it.

I've only been a member on here for a few months and sure would appreciate some advice. Thanks!

 

[Mahonri]

You should have called them immediately once you noticed the lice and bloody poop.

Sometimes a person gets oblivious to what's right in front of them, they need to be told to clean it up.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

First, you might PM the person to let them know the issue. Folks personal lives do not always every day/week etc. mesh well with having chickens...for instance, I noticed several weeks ago a sickly hen in my flock and did not know what it was until I picked her up and found the mites...life has been CRAZY lately with me working for the first time in MANY years, and my husband and kid got a GOOD talking to about keeping me updated on the happenings around here with the birds(it was the first I had even SEEN the birds in almost 3 weeks!!), and what to look for etc. Working several 58 hour weeks back to back...left me no choice but to trust them with the animals. THAT being said...you never know what is going on behind closed doors. Lice/mites/coccidosis can happen and DOES happen to the best of us, and that person may not know, so tell them

THEN if they are unapologetic and you feel this was purposeful...proceed with the rant

I just don't see a BYC'er shooting themselves in the foot like that intentionally. IF it was purposeful, IF they plan on selling more birds, EVER...they would not sell to someone who could broadcast to the whole WORLD that their chicks are sickly and not worth the drive. So, give them the benfit of the doubt, and try to work it out with them. I'm almost POSITIVE they would appreciate it IMMENSELY...I know I would! Sorry about the ill babies...it can be heartbreaking!!

I hope you get this sorted out and do not lose anymore!! I hope the seller doesn't lose any as well!

 

[Cetawin]

Cocci is easily treated...Corid powder can be added to their water for 5 - 7 days. The lice...dust them with poultry dust/spray, their bedding and everything...Change their bedding daily if you can.

I would PM or email the seller and let them know what is going on. They will want to know if they are a responsible breeder/seller. But neither of those conditions warrants taking them back or refund etc etc...they are easily treated and fixed unless the cocci is really bad and the chicks have been compromised internally. The cocci would be bad if they were really young or left untreated, it would be fatal ultimately. Pictures of the babies and the bloody poo and the lice if you can get it, just in case.

Cocci is quite common, it is in the soil and the stains vary from place to place too.

 

[TheFeatheredTempest]

Is it possible for the chicks to have gotten cocci and lice if they had never been out of the incubator and brooder? I've never hatched out any babies (yet!) so I really don't know. Wouldn't they need to be exposed to another chicken or the out of doors? I wasn't too terribly upset about the cocci. I have to admit the lice give me the creeeeeeps!

 

[Cetawin]

Yes it is quite possible. Cocci can be picked up in the soil and also in a filthy brooder...as can lice. But lice and mites are really not big deal, just annoying. They can cause problems with a really bad infestation.

The cocci as long as they have not had it for very long, the Corid will take care of it and they should be fine. If they have had it for a long time, it can damage their intestines and will eventually kill them.

 

[TheFeatheredTempest]

Thanks everyone for the advice and all the info

I'll contact the breeder and just let her know about the situation but without being hostile or anything. This is certainly a good learning experience.