Chicken death..why?

[dddockins]

I am new to raising chickens but have spent a great deal of money and become attached to my girls. My chickens are 12-16 weeks old and have been in their new cool for 2 weeks. Yesterday, I discovered my 14 week old buff polish wouldn't stand and was very lethargic. The other polish would walk around like she was drunk and limping on one leg with a drooped wing. I immediately pulled these two from the clock and put them in the sick bay pen. I gave them both electrolytes and the buff died 10 minutes later. I noticed bloody poop in her cage. Her litter mate was going crazy and seemed to be in pain. Since I was so worried it was coccidiosis I made the horrible desicion to euthanize her. I had bought every possible book and have been completely overwhelmed by information and loss. I don't have unlimited resources, a chicken vet or any idea what the problem was. I love the remaining 4 birds and am afraid another situation will present itself and I don't know what to do. Any advice?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss, and welcome to BYC. Cociddiosis is common in chicks, and Corid from the feed store cattle section, can treat it. Symptoms are runny poops with mucus or blood, lethargic or sleepy behaviour, hunching or puffing up, and not eating. Keep your droppings cleaned up by raking bedding, and adding new pine shavings when needed. Keep down wet spots by raising waterers up to should height. Corid dosage is 2 tsp of liquid, or 1 1/2 tsp of the powder per gallon of water for 5 days.

 

[Donna R Raybon]

Sorry for your loss. There is a learning curve, sometimes littered with dead bodies.

Coccidia is one of easier problems to manage once you know basic reproduction cycle. It has a direct life cycle which means animal eats one oocyte and twenty one days later full blown coccidiosis.

So, chicks hatch and you treat twenty one days later. Then, treat again twenty one days after last treatment. Usually two or three cycles and they are old enough to have resistance IF they have been out on dirt/grass.

Coccidia is in environment and in animal's gut all the time. Their immune system keeps it from becoming a problem. Anything that stresses animal can cause immune system to be overwhelmed. So, you learn to keep close eye when animals are stressed. For example if I were to move a pen of birds to a new pen/coop that were older, hadn't been treated in six months, I might go ahead and treat.

Always treat everyone in a group/pen if one has problems. If i already have a bird sick, I would actually give them a dose individually rather than depending on it to drink enough water with meds.

 

[CluckerCottage]

Sorry for you, friend.
Sure wish you'd have come here for help sooner. You must be devastated.
Chickens on Corid show improvement after only a few hours (seriously).
If kept on treatment for the entire 5 days, they are good to go.
You should start the remaining birds on it now.

 

[dddockins]

Thank you all so much. I bought the Corid and will start the others on it right away.