Chicks dying--- Acting lethargic, suddenly 'paralyzed' etc

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear they are not doing well.

I agree that calling your feed stores to see what they have available will save you some time. Hopefully you can find some Corid, try Tractor Supply stores. If you have a vet that sees any other animals that you have, give them a call to see what they have available to treat Coccidiosis.

 

[micstrachan]

I am so sorry you are having a rough go with these chicks.
Some people have said it seems neurological. If that is the case, I think vitamins could help. If you don't have that on hand and cannot go get it, do you have human multivitamins on hand? Anyone know how to prep and/or dilute for chicks?
This came up last night, and I still am not clear on the details, but I think vitamins are counterproductive if there is coccidosis.
Honestly, I'm not sure which way to go here. But if the chicks are dying that quickly and you cannot go get corrid, maybe vitamins are worth a shot.
These are just my thoughts and not based on experience. Learning as quickly as I can for the benefit of my flock and so I can be a helpful contributor on the forums.

 

[Gramma Chick]

I am so sorry you are having a rough go with these chicks.
.

My guess would be the older chicks from someone else infected your chicks with something

 

[mustangrooster]

Thank you, everyone, so much for all your help. I have some good news and some bad news.

The good news----

So, we went to the vet earlier on today, it was at the point if we didn't try to find something, all my chicks would die. My worst fear? That it would spread to the whole flock....and that's a lot of birds.

They didn't have corid, but they had something (I forget the name) that treats Cocci, as well as a few other things. We went and got it and I'm treating the chicks with it. The older chicks are showing no sign of sickness and are all well, still, I have put the stuff in their water.

The bad news----

I'm down to just one little chick. By the time we got home, the last Sussex chick who was starting to show signs of the sickness (like half of her body kind of 'paralyzed') was almost lifeless, only a few small cheeps could be heard and she was barely breathing. Still, I mixed up the stuff and I treated her first (by a syringe) she died not too long ago.


I do have a little more good news, though.

My last chick (the last of the 1-week olds) wasn't lifeless when we got home and was only just starting to have trouble walking. She was the second one I treated, before moving onto the older chicks. I have been syringe feeding her the mixture on and off since I got home, she is in a cozy little spot with a heat lamp and seems to be getting better-- When I opened the brooder, she tried to come over to me and was cheeping. Though, I'm not getting my hopes up too high. I guess I will find out if she will make it when I wake up tomorrow.

Lesson learned. I always have mingled differently aged chicks together if I have differently aged chicks at the same time, but they are all home hatched. This was the first time I have mingled older chicks from another place with younger home hatched chicks, and as you can see it has not gone well. I am so bumbed about all my losses, they were breeds I have been wanting for ages. Oh well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Hopefully the meds from the vet will start helping the last little one.

Keep us posted.

 

[Kiki]

I am so glad you got to the vet and was able to get the meds.
Unfortunately Coccidiosis can 'spread' extremely fast and chicks can go downhill over night.

When you get a change will you look at the label on the package of meds the vet gave you to treat for Coccidiosis and let me know what it is called.

Sorry for your losses.
In the future you now know what to look for and hopefully will have the med on hand and be able to start it sooner.

 

[Eggcessive]

Most vets who do not use Corid (amprollium) will use sulfa antibiotics, such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon, Dimethox,) to treat coccidosis which used to be available in feed stores until the FDA antibiotic ban last year. With these you can also use the vitamins, such as giving the chicks NutriDrench or Poultry Cell 1 ml orally per day if you wish to treat for vitamin deficiency-related neurological symptoms. In Corid use, since it is a thiamine blocker, most avoid vitamins, but it is not necessary with antibiotics. A little probiotics or plain yogurt can be helpful

 

[chickens really]

That's too bad....Its always a gamble bringing in new Birds...Sorry for your loss....

 

[Gramma Chick]

so sorry ...I hope you can get more of those breeds to hatch

 

[mustangrooster]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies and I will get around to answering soon.

I have more bad news and good news.

Unfornutaly, the little last fluff butt didn't survive. The Strange thing is when I woke up she had maggots coming in and out of her legs! She had only been dead a few hours.

I have been treating the other chicks every day with the medication. But...

Today, when I walked into the coop, I saw one of my nearly 1-year-old hens, on the floor, barely unable to walk. She is now separated into a cage and I am syringe feeding her the formula. I instantly put some of the mixture into the coop chickens water, but I don't have enough to treat all my chickens plus the chicks!! Whats stranger is that this hen has had no contact with the sick chicks what so ever. Is there something I'm missing? Is this a different sickness?

The good news is that the 4-week old chicks are still alive and seem healthy.