Chicks dying of Cocci**UPDATE & NEW QUESTION PG 2**

[Mrs. Glassman]

I have a few 3 week old chicks. I've had them since they were about 3 days old, I believe.

They all seemed to be healthy & thriving.

I placed them in a clean brooder with, good temps, clean water, & chic starter.

Last week, they started dying for what seemed like No Reason. Everyone would be ok, I'd get up in the morning & find one dead. I've found 3 that way, usually the smallest of the bunch. At first, I thought they just stopped thriving & fell over dead for unexplained reasons.

Yesterday evening, when I cleaned the brooder & placed new paper towels down, one poo'd on the white paper, and it was CLEARLY bloody. That chic was dead by morning.

So I researched "bloody poo" on here & it seems to be a nasty little bug called cocci.

I went to the feed store & got "Corrid". I put 2 tsp in a gallon jug of water & filled the quart jar waterer with that. I also read that yogurt was good for them, so I put some in a small bowl. They are wearing more of it than they ate. They are CAKED in the stuff, so now they are probably WORSE off than if I had not given it to them.

Part of me wants to just throw my hands up in the air & give up, and another part really really wants these chics to make it....but I don't know what I'm doing here. I've had chickens for about 3 years now, and have never lost ANY to disease or sickness. I've always raised OEG's of questionable decent. These are Marans, the first chicks I've paid for & they are dropping like flies.

Is this stuff survivable?

Is it contagious from bird to bird? For example do I need to "decontaminate" myself before I feed & water the birds outside?

The chicks can't drink a gallon of water in a day, do I keep refilling the quart waterer with the gallon of medicated water, or do I have to make a new batch every time?

I'm sure there are other questions I should be asking, but I don't know a darn thing about sicknesses. I'm way better at injuries.

 

[Mrs. Glassman]

Oh...And can I get it??

 

[silkiechicken]

Cocci is species specific, meaning not you, the cat, or the dog can get it. It is an internal parasite, a protozoa. The drugs will inhibit it's growth, thus "cure" them in a few days. You can prevent it by feeding medicated feed. Medicated feed prevents the reproduction of the protozoa so the birds can become immune. Another way to increase immunity is expose them to cocci the day you get them. It is in the dirt so let them have dirt from outside as it is everywhere. Some strains and individuals have a better immune system so become immune to the protozoa and are not as likely to get sick.

They can recover no problem and if caught early, many don't lose a single chick!

Use the search function and you can find a lot of threads on cocci. Good luck.

 

[Sillystunt]

I do believe your other birds and you can get it! Use proper hand washing and sanitize with bleach. I don'tknow alot about it but get your birds away from the others.
Best of luck and sending good vibes~

 

[silkiechicken]

Yes, other birds can get it, and most birds will carry a "healthy" load of cocci in their gut. You however, are not a bird and thus cannot get it. Dogs and cats can get cocci, but the types they get are for dogs, and for cats.

 

[Mrs. Glassman]

Thanks for the replies.

Should I feed them yogurt now, or wait until the five days of treatment is over? I've already had another die since my last post. I'm down to 4 out of 10.

 

[Mrs. Glassman]

Quote:
So do I need to treat my whole flock even if I don't think anyone else has it? Just to be sure??

 

[AHappychick]

I would put powdered milk in their feed that works better than the yogurt in this situation I think.

have you been giving a fresh mix of corrid everyday? sometimes by the time you start seeing them die it is too late for some, but the others should/can make it, but some strains are stronger than others I think. I like powdered goats milk best for fighting it if you have the choice and Amprol from First state vet when nessisarry. I think corrid is the same thing though but not sure so double check that. you could also make a mash of it in their food with their feed I think maybe trying a bit more of it if infact it is the same as Amprol would be ok and might help.

so sorry good luck

 

[bigtooks]

when mine got it noone had any treatment for it so i put apple cider vinegar in their water and stictly fed medicated feed with no treats...and they overcame it..i did lose one

i would put vinegar in the big flock water and not treat whole flock...just my opinion

 

[silkiechicken]

I'd pass on the yogurt till you are done treating. Chickens can't process dairy due to a lack of the enzymes to break down lactose.

As for treating the rest. As healthy adults, they should already be immune to it and so don't need it. Matter of fact, treating with sulmet can actually increase bleeding in some cases so should not be used all the time.

There will be a dozen different ways to treat it, and eventually, some will just get over it due to their natural immune systems.