chicks in shipping-- tell me not to panic

[feliciadawn]

Have you contacted the hatchery yet to discuss any of this?

Yes. The owner concurs that I should use Corid, approved the dose i am using, and asserts that these chicks are indeed 7 weeks old and that they were indeed vaccinated for Mereks. Then she goes on,

"Just keep doing what you are doing. In 72 hours back off to preventative dose. If their poop is still showing symptoms then stay on the treatment dose. Please remember that on average every 1 in 5 or so poops have sluff in them and will appear red and can look very bloody. You can keep feeding them the scrambled eggs with Corid in it. They get eggs daily when they are in the baby brooder so they definitely know what they are."​

 

[Kusanar]

I only have her word for it that she vaccinated for Mareks. Even if I quarantine them, and treat the coccidosis, am I ever going to be able to put them with the rest of my flock?

You do know that the Mareks vaccine does not keep them from getting Mareks right? It only keeps them from getting bad symptoms, they still get the disease and can spread it. Do you have Mareks in your flock? If not, these chicks shouldn't endanger your current flock (assuming they are vaccinated) and your flock shouldn't endanger them.

 

[ackie]

Yes. The owner concurs that I should use Corid, approved the dose i am using, and asserts that these chicks are indeed 7 weeks old and that they were indeed vaccinated for Mereks. Then she goes on,

"Just keep doing what you are doing. In 72 hours back off to preventative dose. If their poop is still showing symptoms then stay on the treatment dose. Please remember that on average every 1 in 5 or so poops have sluff in them and will appear red and can look very bloody. You can keep feeding them the scrambled eggs with Corid in it. They get eggs daily when they are in the baby brooder so they definitely know what they are."​

Boo. I was really hoping for "oh our records do show that we sent you 4 week chicks". Because that would have been way better for everyone.

 

[feliciadawn]

My older chickens are not vaccinated for Mareks. They are from a trusted breeder (active on this forum) who does not vaccinate but who raises super healthy birds. That is why I wanted these new ones vaccinated.

 

[LaFleche]

I have some 7-week old chicks currently being shipped from a small hatchery in New Mexico (I am in PA.). I ordered them a month ago, when they were smaller. They were supposedly ready to be shipped then, but various delays occurred (mostly on the seller's end) and they weren't shipped until last night.

Yes. The owner concurs that I should use Corid, approved the dose i am using, and asserts that these chicks are indeed 7 weeks old and that they were indeed vaccinated for Mereks. Then she goes on,

"Just keep doing what you are doing. In 72 hours back off to preventative dose. If their poop is still showing symptoms then stay on the treatment dose. Please remember that on average every 1 in 5 or so poops have sluff in them and will appear red and can look very bloody. You can keep feeding them the scrambled eggs with Corid in it. They get eggs daily when they are in the baby brooder so they definitely know what they are."​

Quite a dubious business conduct. Shipping chicks much younger than ordered and obviously sick already long before the shipping.

If they were in fact vaccinated they should have send a written confirmation with exact date and vaccine used including the batch number etc.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've never heard the rule of shipping only chicks or adults. I know a few breeders who are willing to shipp 2 week chicks

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I also don't believe that whole 1 in 5 poops appears bloody. I've had 4 bloodily poops ever that I've seen and that came from a wormy bird

 

[ackie]

I also don't believe that whole 1 in 5 poops appears bloody. I've had 4 bloodily poops ever that I've seen and that came from a wormy bird

more like 1 in 5 of THEIR chicks has bloody poop

 

[cmom]

I agree with the others they only look to be about a month old. They still have their fluff on their heads. I also use Sav-a-chick in their water but Poultry Nutri-Drench is good too. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Kusanar]

My older chickens are not vaccinated for Mareks. They are from a trusted breeder (active on this forum) who does not vaccinate but who raises super healthy birds. That is why I wanted these new ones vaccinated.

What I'm saying though is that if your current birds are healthy, they won't infect the new ones, even if the new ones were vaccinated, they could have Mareks and infect your current flock because the vaccine does not stop them from contracting or spreading the disease.