Chicks dying- no sign of illness- help!

[Debbie292d]

Well aside from maybe us having exposed them, they had no exposure unless it was from RK’s 4 I did buy as they do not vaccinate.
Idk.

This is a tractor, it moves all over. Where it was no chickens had been on. Another one of the baffling things. Lol

If it’s cocci it def is odd on how it affects birds.

There are different strains of coccidiosis, and I recall reading long ago that there are areas where it's stronger than others. It's in the grass, the dirt, etc. You could just be where it's a little higher.

Young chicks get it from eating each other's poop. Thus why if folks don't keep the brooders clean and dry, the chicks will surely get sick.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Coccidiosis is found in the soil and in the poop. Even if chicks are in a brooder and have never touched ground, they can have an outbreak/overload (Called Coccidiosis which is an overload of Coccidia (Oocysts) which is a Protozoa) just by drinking water or eating feed that has been pooped in (or eating poop, chicks eat poop too).
There are 9 strains of Coccidia that affect Poultry only 2 of those strains cause blood in the poop, so just looking for bloody poop doesn't always help.

Treating with Amprolium (Corid) won't hurt even if they are not dying from Coccidiosis. The drug is mild and is a B1 (Thiamine) analogue and blocks the Thiamine transporter of the Eimeria Species (Species of Coccidia that affects Poultry/Chickens), basically it helps to starve out/reduce the number of Coccidia which in helps to allow the birds' immune system to start building resistance. (There are other Species of Coccidia that affect Turkeys, Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Horses, etc. etc.)

Some chicks are able to "recover" without treatment and build resistance, but Coccidiosis (overload of Coccidia) can damage the intestinal tract which in time can also cause other issues during the lifetime of the bird such as infection, reduced ability to absorb nutrients in food, slow growth, reduction in production, unthriftiness, etc.

I'd make sure the birds are staying warm, if you are providing treatment, give fresh daily and also keep water stations clean. General tidiness, but don't go overboard, they do need exposure to poop.

You don't mention having any losses since the thread started a couple of days ago, but have made some changes correct - additional heat, seeing that they have good access to water (hydration) and are eating. This adjustment may have been all that needed done to have prevented more losses.

In case you need dosing.
Liquid Corid dose is 2tsp or Powdered Corid Dose is 1 1/2tsp per gallon of water given for 5-7 days as the only source of drinking water.
Do not add any extra vitamins/electrolytes that contain B1(Thiamine) to food or water during the course of treatment.

Fwiw - unless you order from a hatchery and specify you want chicks vaccinated for Coccidiosis, none are vaccinated for it. Depending on the vaccine each hatchery uses or if you purchase your own and vaccinate, protection may be only for 3-6 strains and some provide moderate "protection" for only up to 5wks, some longer, the goal is to help the birds build resistance through exposure.

Well aside from maybe us having exposed them, they had no exposure unless it was from RK’s 4 I did buy as they do not vaccinate.