CHICKS SUDDENLY DYING! Any thoughts or suggestions?

[casportpony]

Thank you for all your replies, I really appreciate it. I just returned from 3 hour trip to take the last one to succumb to get a necropsy done by the state. They said they would do it tomorrow but she said it could take time to get results. That really worries me.....

Several of you have mentioned Corid. Where can I get? As I mentioned, I think I saw Tetracycline being sold in bulk at the feed store and I have some Doxycycline here at the house. Let me know if you had to get from vet or could get through feed store. I think I would like to treat for the cocci just in case - need to see what, where I can get the somethig to treat them with.

None of the chicks have had gasping breaths, nor any gurgling or bubbling when dying. They more seemed to "heave" quietly and labored- like. One seemed to chirp a lot for a while, more than usual, almost like complaining. So sad.

The lab should have *preliminary* results by the end of day tomorrow, but the cultures and sensitivity testing can take much longer. Call them around 3pm and ask for the preliminary report and let them know you're trying to save the rest of your babies.

You can get Corid (amprolium) at TSC and some feed stores might carry it. It's usually in the cattle section.

The dying process is hard to get used to... The ones that are vocal bother me the most.

Sorry for your losses.

-Kathy

 

[Michael Apple]

Corid, Tylan, LS-50, are all generally available from feed stores. You could call them to see if they carry it. Otherwise it may be quicker to order it.
I use a few online sellers like:
http://www.qcsupply.com/ for meds
http://www.revivalanimal.com/ for Oxine AH
http://www.randallburkey.com/ for meds
http://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/store/ for supplies and meds

 

[ginnychick]

All of you have been so amazing and so supportive. The three chicks are still hanging in there. I had some doubts on one of them for a while this morning but she is up and around again. I have called and can get the Corid in 20% for cattle readily as is pictured in "casportpony's" picture, but have to order the 9.6% liquid and wont get here til Thurs. Can I use the higher potency one and dilute further to equal the right solution? Hope to hear back so I can go buy or order the 9,6% by this afternoon.

I can also get sufadimethizine, which I read might be too strong for such young chicks - correct? Should I have this to have on hand or skip?

Michael, I read the article you sent. From it is seems the Corid is the way to go, but the Chicken Doctor advocates using sulfadimethoxine in rotation along with 3 Nitro-W (what is this last one?!) Do you feel it is sufficient to just use the Corid?

Hope to hear back from one of you soon as to if I can buy the 20% Corid or order the other and wait. I think should be a way to use, but want to make sure. Thanks again to all of you!

 

[Michael Apple]

The Corid 20% powder is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon for 5 days at a time. If you get that you won't need the Corid 9.6 liquid. Sullfamethazine (sodium sulfamethazine) which is the ingredient in Sulmet is too harsh for chicks. I haven't had Sulmet in my cabinet for years. I keep Sulfadimethoxine which also controls Cholera and Coryza in addition to some coccidia strains. You are better off with a pack of the Sulfadimethoxine powder (Durvet brand) which is also 1/2 teaspoon per gallon but only for 3 days, if the Corid were not doing the job. It is a good idea to keep both on hand if you need them. I've only had to use Sulfadimethoxine once on chicks for a coccidiosis strain.

Here's a thread link with some good info on Coccidiosis: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/758621/coccidiosis-sulmet-or-corrid#post_10772285

Peter Brown aka Chicken Doctor is a good guy and knowledgeable. I've talked with him a few times. I am unfamiliar with 3-Nitro W since I've never had a situation that called for seeking it out. Go with the Corid since it should take care of most strains of coccidia. Like I said keep the Sulfadimethoxine on hand in addition just in case. Keep us posted.

 

[ginnychick]

I wanted to write an update to et you know where we are at the moment.

After all your thoughtful and helpful posts, I ordered Corid 9.6%, but unfortunately does not arrive until tomorrow, Thurs.

The 3 remaining chicks seem to be doing well (but of course the others that passed seemed to be just fine too, so am cautiously optimistic in saying this).

I took the Barred Rock for a necropsy. As casportpony suggested, I requested to get the prelimanary results rather than waiting for all tests to come in. (I am hoping that by detailing, someone else who encounters something similar and is new, will know what is involved),

Here it is:

Gross necropsy: Bird was in good condition. Adequate amount of body fat, feed in crop/ventriculus and formed feces. Thymus and bursa present. No ectoparasites or internal parasites noted. Fecal float was negative. Pending test: AI PCR, histopathology, aerobic culture of liver and lung and enteric panel for salmonella, and E. coli.


So, from this can we rule out Coccidiosis or there is still a possibility? I am picking up the Corrid tomorrow and will just on hand for another occassion if ruled out. Any thoughts?
Will keep you all posted.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the three remaining ones continue to do well and we get no more unpleasant surprises!

BTW - know this is not part of this thread, but thought you'd find interesting. They are all so hungry and feeding well, growing like crazy, etc.
Could not believe, I went out to buy meal worms for them as a treat today since they all seem to be doing okay and they would not even touch them! I thought this was such a favorite treat for chicken that they would surely like it. It was hard for me to put them in since I am not too fond of worms
but if I put anything else in the brooder fresh like dill, lettuce, parsley, even hard boiled egg, they act like they have never been fed!

 

[kynewbchickie]

I wanted to write an update to et you know where we are at the moment.

After all your thoughtful and helpful posts, I ordered Corid 9.6%, but unfortunately does not arrive until tomorrow, Thurs.

The 3 remaining chicks seem to be doing well (but of course the others that passed seemed to be just fine too, so am cautiously optimistic in saying this).

I took the Barred Rock for a necropsy. As casportpony suggested, I requested to get the prelimanary results rather than waiting for all tests to come in. (I am hoping that by detailing, someone else who encounters something similar and is new, will know what is involved),

Here it is:

Gross necropsy: Bird was in good condition. Adequate amount of body fat, feed in crop/ventriculus and formed feces. Thymus and bursa present. No ectoparasites or internal parasites noted. Fecal float was negative. Pending test: AI PCR, histopathology, aerobic culture of liver and lung and enteric panel for salmonella, and E. coli.


So, from this can we rule out Coccidiosis or there is still a possibility? I am picking up the Corrid tomorrow and will just on hand for another occassion if ruled out. Any thoughts?
Will keep you all posted.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the three remaining ones continue to do well and we get no more unpleasant surprises!

BTW - know this is not part of this thread, but thought you'd find interesting. They are all so hungry and feeding well, growing like crazy, etc.
Could not believe, I went out to buy meal worms for them as a treat today since they all seem to be doing okay and they would not even touch them! I thought this was such a favorite treat for chicken that they would surely like it. It was hard for me to put them in since I am not too fond of worms
but if I put anything else in the brooder fresh like dill, lettuce, parsley, even hard boiled egg, they act like they have never been fed!

I'd personally skip the parsley. There are a few things that are not good to give as treats that we wouldn't think would do harm, but they will.

Just a thought - when giving any treats at all, did you offer grit? I've always heard the best rule of thumb was that if it was something we would have to chew, they would need grit. Not saying this is what killed your babies... I'm heartbroken for you and just trying to think through what info you gave to what could possibly be going on, given the prelim report you posted...

I hope none of the others succumb. I'm so very, very sorry for your loss. I'm pretty well attached to all 30 of mine - I did lose one the week after we got "gifted" with six Black Giant straight-run babies - just up and died and I found it dead during the dusk feed/water change time. I cried, dug a hole about 3 feet deep, my son said a prayer, and we moved on...went from 31 to 30 and I still wonder what happened, because everyone else is doing great. Sometimes they just die - sometimes, it's something treatable/preventable. I surely hope you get a solid answer and soon so you can save the rest of your little ones. Please, keep us posted.

 

[kynewbchickie]

I'd personally skip the parsley. There are a few things that are not good to give as treats that we wouldn't think would do harm, but they will.

Just a thought - when giving any treats at all, did you offer grit? I've always heard the best rule of thumb was that if it was something we would have to chew, they would need grit. Not saying this is what killed your babies... I'm heartbroken for you and just trying to think through what info you gave to what could possibly be going on, given the prelim report you posted...

I hope none of the others succumb. I'm so very, very sorry for your loss. I'm pretty well attached to all 30 of mine - I did lose one the week after we got "gifted" with six Black Giant straight-run babies - just up and died and I found it dead during the dusk feed/water change time. I cried, dug a hole about 3 feet deep, my son said a prayer, and we moved on...went from 31 to 30 and I still wonder what happened, because everyone else is doing great. Sometimes they just die - sometimes, it's something treatable/preventable. I surely hope you get a solid answer and soon so you can save the rest of your little ones. Please, keep us posted.

To add to my first sentence - I never would have thought that some of these things would be bad for them:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

You'll find the list of bad treats at the bottom, and a very helpful link on toxic plants in poultry (that I'm going to link again here)
http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxic1.html

I'm a homeopath, too - am a massage therapist and used to work in vet care for a vet that did practice avian vet medicine. I now know that many of my medicinal herbs and plants will have to be located away from any chance encounter with my flock. :/

 

[heby]

I have a few questions if you don't mind. Do you wait for symptoms of Cocci before you treat or can you just give them a dose of meds from time to time to prevent sickness? Does putting ACV in their water help prevent it? If so, do you put it in everyday or just every other day? Sorry I didn't mean to intrude on the thread but I had my smallest bantam die suddenly this morning. It seemed ok when I first got up, but then before I took kids to school it was laying down and refused to stand up. When I held her, she would chirp but that was all. When I got home from the school a few min later, she would open her mouth like she was trying to chirp but no sound. I tried to give her water with electrolytes but she would just shake her head. Then she just passed away. IT was terrible cause it was my 6yr old son chick that he bought with his own money. Is it normal for some of their poo to be runny. It isn't bloody or anything.

 

[ginnychick]

Heby,
So sorry to hear about the little bantam. The symptoms sound just like that ones mine had! From all the posts people sent me and reading on the site, there are people that do treat to prevent the cocci. Read some of the links they posted above. The ACV helps but does not totally guard against it. Just like I was told that giving them medicated feed as young chick helps but again does not always prevent the cocci.I am still waiting for the conclusive results to see if they come up with anything. For mine, seems it is not cocci from the prelim. Once I get the results I'll post. Hope it helps.

 

[ginnychick]

Hi Knewbchikie,

Thanks for your reply. I have found mixed opinions on parsley - many people on the foum give it, but have seen a couple of places that say to skip! So very confused.... did you read it was toxic?

The two link you posted are great to have. I had read them before and find that the one about the food they eat is very helpful (I chuckle cause they say the mealworms are a foolproof favorite treat -- not to mine!; maybe as they get older they;ll eat the bag I just bought). The other link is monumental -seems almost every plant has possibility of being toxic! The fellow who wrote it sure did a nice job compiling all the info., shame he is not raising chickens anymore.

Great that you too are a homeopath. Are you an herbalist also? I dabble and love reading and learning about herbs, vitamins, etc. but I trained as a classical homeopath in NY and thus only use homeopathic remedies and tinctures for treating homeopathically. I am currently in the process of ordering a couple of homeopathic books that deal strictly with poultry to get versed in it, so hopefully I can help my chicks with anything that comes up in the future using homeopathy or at least as an adjunct to allopathic medicines if it seems to be the indicated thiing to do. Might as well try to keep them healthy with what I know what to do

I thought that I might try to contribute to the forum later on by writing some about how to treat certain conditions using homeopathy for those who want to try somehthing natural and non toxic.

Still waiting for the the results of the testing done on the last dead chick. Will post once I hear anything new.