chicks dying , help....coccidiosis???? any thoughts....

[NYSAHMof3]

If you own a drill you can definitely do this. I don't remember what size bit, however it said on the You Tube video we watched. You can use a designated water bucket or just a five gallon bucket from a hardware store. Message me if you like I can find out the size bit. It's a very easy project and you can use most equine deicers in any bucket for winter. They are usually thermostat controlled and you can just run an electric cord to your coop. Maybe I missed it or maybe it's not a good idea, but have you tried treating everyone with an antibiotic like duramycin? Also make sure your ACV is "with the mother", or it isn't really effective. I think it's good to do the ACV in water on a regular basis. We alternate, plain water and then water with ACV, 2 tablespoons/ gallon. Good luck! It's so stressful when they are sick and you don't know why.

 

[esther5]

thanks for the encouragement. i do have a drill. i will look into the you tube video and have a go.

sick cockerel ran to me when i went outside just now. and had some more to eat. i am still helping but i can now see him passing the food back into his beak rather than ineffectually pecking at it. i really hope he makes it.....

 

[esther5]

pleased that everyone looks ok except for the cockerel but he is definitely stronger than yesterday when i thought he was on his way out. he is enthusiastically pecking at food but not eating as much as it looks so still hand feeding him but he is drinking on his own and is looking interested in life but still weak.
i've known them to seem to get better before they die on me so i'll reserve judgement but i hope he has turned the corner.
will update....

sadly after a day when he looked much better, he deteriorated and after 2 days of growing weaker and weaker he died. last friday was the 7th day of corid treatment. the pullet who looked droopy perked up but on sunday i noticed one of her wings was dropped and today she is lethargic and droopy.she has lost a lot of weight in the last few days. she is eating and drinking a little. she has diarrhoea which the other one had earlier in the illness but not at the end.

i see no signs of lice. i am in the process of worming everyone. there has never been any blood i could see in the poop. there is no paralysis in any of the ones that have died altogether (8 so far) and the symptoms have varied re the deaths..ie the first died of sour crop and one was respiratory but none of the others have any discharge or gasping for breath. they all came from the same place and so far the rest of my flock has not shown any symptoms.

i am at a loss. i live i uk. could it be that the coccidiosis had already caused the damage to her digestive system? it seems like there is a death about once a fortnight on average.

 

[NYSAHMof3]

Geez, so sorry to hear that. I have heard that you can start the corid too late. So maybe things will look up from here for all your others. Crossing my fingers for you. Keep us posted.

 

[ESofVA]

I don't think they had coccidiosis.

 

[esther5]

yeah...i looked up infectious bronchitis which you suggested but only one really had any signs of respiratory symptoms. you may well be right but it doesn't seem to fit mareks disease whick was also suggested because there isn't paralysis.

thanks anyway...

 

[esther5]

feeding the flock with a multi vitamin tonic. the sick pullet seemed to regain some appetite after eating mealworms earlier today and ate warm crumbles later on. will update....still baffled.

 

[NYSAHMof3]

What about scrambled eggs for the sick chick. I have also poached eggs then mashed up well, provides more liquid.

 

[esther5]

hi yes, i've been doing that and it does tempt them to eat but it isn't curing them of course.
thanks.

 

[ESofVA]

May not be, but I still don't think coccidia. I would still be looking for something else.