chick with coccidiosis??

[Loving My Peeps]

I have a 2 week old baby chick that I think is suffering from coccidiosis. He is very lethargic, not eating or drinking much, falls asleep standing then topples almost to a laying position. He will walk with his wings out as if to balance himself. Sleeps almost all the time for the last 2 days. The other 5 chicks were trampling him so I have now moved him into another brooder. Just this morning I started to notice the bloody feces....but nothing until today. His poos were watery but no blood prior to this morning.

I have corid 20% powder on hand that I just starting using, I have also put some into the healthy chicks water as they were exposed. My question is about the recipe for coccidiosis: if my chick is refusing food and water how do I get the medicine into him. I had noticed that he is considerably smaller than the others his same age. Would coccidiosis stunt his growth prior to showing symptoms? He has been symptomatic for 3 days counting today.

I don't have a gallon waterer to place in the brooders, I only have the quart ones. So how much Corid 20% powder for 1 quart of water? This baby chick was outside briefly as he was almost hatched by a broody who gave up the day prior to hatcing. I place the egg into the incubator and he did hatch out normally. I then brought him outside to show the no longer broody Mother hen what she would of had. I place him on the ground in their run, he cheeped, she looked betweeen her legs and then just walked away, not interested in being a Mom! I guess that would have been about 12 days ago because he just just 2 days old when I did that. 2 minutes in the run is enough to get exposed I guess.

Coccidia is the only illness that fits the description so I'm going with that.....

I have pm'd this to a few "experts" with much more knowledge but have not gotten any responses yet so I'm going public with the problem.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Are your chicks on a medicated starter feed? If not, I'd switch them, at least temporarily. As far as the corid powder, I do not know the dose, as I have only used the liquid in the past. As far as getting the meds into him, you need to be syringe feeding/watering him if he won't eat or drink on his own. Also, for an energy boost give him some applesauce baby food mixed with a LITTLE bit of molasses and you can also give him plain yogurt, all should go through a syringe easily, just go slow so he doesn't aspirate the food into his lungs. I would also suggest poly vi sol infant drops WITHOUT iron.

Search the Emergencies section for "corrid powder dose" to see if you can find something to help you out there...Good luck!

 

[Loving My Peeps]

YES, they are all on medicated chick starter mash. I was able to find the Corid dosage as it is 1-2 teaspoons 20% corid per gallon of water. I have dipped his beak in it a few times and he has swallowed. I have done tis about 5 times in the past 2 hours. My little chick is still very lethargic but he has voluntarily eaten a few crumbles of chick food. I have not seen him drink on his own yet. Should I add the vitamins to the water that is being treated with the Corid? Will that interact as the Corid is suppose to act by blocking vitamin B in the coccia?

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I wouldn't put the vitamins in the water directly, they come with a dropper, just give him a drop a couple of times per day. Even if the corrid blocks the Vit B in the drops, the other things can still help him while he's eating less. Glad to hear he seems to be responding!!

 

[BarredBuff]

I had a Dom pullet get that when she was young. They all were on medicated feed (a joke, my cousin doesnt use it and never has a problem) and one got coccidia she was very lethargic and very small compared to the others. I got corrid and treated everyone and isolated her. She died and I havent lost any birds to any diseases but I lost a few for some chicken breakfast and casserole. But honestly I would be more worried about keeping everyone else alive rather than that one.

 

[Mrs MIA]

"medicated" doesn't necessarily mean a coccidiostat...
You can grind the food up really small, and sprinkle the powder in the food if the chick is eating, but best is to disolve it in water and apply a drop to the side of its beak, just a few drops at a time, and not forcing it down. Sometimes if you dip the beak, it will drink, too. Sometimes that the only way to get them to drink. The vitamins are good, regardless. Also keep the chick warm... it's going to use a lot of energy staying warm, so if you can help it out that way, it will get better quicker.

 

[Loving My Peeps]

Now it seems as though my little chick is getting wry neck. He is not eating or drinking on his own so I think it is time to say goodbye. He is just laying with his crooked little neck and not making any chirping noises any more. I'm so sad but I guess a chicken life really is survival of the fittest. I don't want a weak chick that will get sick constantly and potentially expose the rest of my flock. This one is isolated but only after he showed symptoms of coccidia.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
Oh, I'm so sorry. I'd probably make the same choice at this point.

 

[Loving My Peeps]

He was just about dead when I got home tonight. I gave him a kiss and placed his little body in a ziploc baggie. I assured him he would be at peace and it is okay to let go now. I miss my little guy already and its only been 30 minutes.....

I need to focus on the healthy ones now.

 

[gvntofly05]

I'm so sorry you lost your little one.

I just wanted to add about the vitamins, it is always wise to wait a week or two after treating Cocci with Amprol to give vitamins. Amprol will not work successfully due to the thiamine in vitamins and electrolytes.