Chicks with Red in Poop

[tplummer]

I have a few buff orpington chicks who appear to have red(blood?) in the poop. What could the problem be and what should I try. They seem rather sleepy but standing up.

 

[sonew123]

are they on medicated chick feed? My chicks are and in that food there are red peices of food in there-small red peices but none the less red. I have seen red in their poopies but it was not blood-I am like a hawk the first couple weeks-

 

[tplummer]

I am not 100% sure it is not medicated. They are on the starter/grower. I will check it. If it is, is there anything to worry about?
They have been eating it for 2 or 3 weeks now with no problems, yet.

 

[gone fishin']

If your chicks have blood in their poop, they have a life threatening emergency, most likely coccidiosis. You need to get some amprolium and administer it at TREATMENT dose, not preventative dose that's in the feed, it will be too late for that. Once it's at the stage of bloody poop it is a serious problem. I recommend getting the liquid (or powder) amprolium right away and have it in their water at the treatment dose. With immediate proper treatment, recovery is possible. Don't waste any time.

 

[tplummer]

Where do you get this medication? Does TSC have it? Is there a label name or is that the label name?

 

[Thomas423]

Our TSC does not sell it.

The brand name I bought is Corid.

Good luck finding it. Call all feed stores, ask if they know of anyone.
Call any farms that might help you out. A vet might have it, but they might want to see the hen first.

But do something....Fast. Usually once you see the symptoms they die within 96 hours.

Symptoms: Sleeping, but standing.
Droopy wings
Loud peeping
Blood in stools (not all stools will have the blood, just some)

Also, once you get the meds, you might need to encourage/help the chicks drink.
Do a search on here for Coccidiosis....there's lots of tips to try until you get the medication. I used the powdered milk in their feed to make them drink more. Still lost 6 chicks but hopefully the other 6 will make it.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your little ones.

 

[Thomas423]

Also, if you are buying feed from TSC, it is not medicated with Amprolium.

 

[crazyhen]

If it is cocci it is dangerous but look carefully. I gave mine some chick grit and it has iron on it. Theirs turned red but then I remembered what I had done. Little chicks sleep a lot but are real active when not. Check out the page on cocci. Good Luck Oh it is not always written on the bag itsself that it is medicated. It will be on a white label sewn into the bottom outside of the bag. Gloria jean

 

[gone fishin']

Yes it used to be readily available as Corid, but lately it seems harder to find.

Get on the phone and call any large animal or farm vets, they often stock amprolium in liquid form. Then you have to dilute it to the right dosage. Other pet vets might have it but much less likely. You can also sometimes get it expressed from a chicken supply place. It is non-prescription.

IMO everyone should have some amprolium in their emergency kit so it's on hand.

See if they'll eat some yogurt and oats in the meantime, but that is nowhere near a cure, that is a very minor help to try to get additional good bacteria in them. Make efforts to keep them away from all poop also.

 

[allison finch]

If you can't find corid, look for Sulmet. More stores sell it. You add it to the water. It is an older sulfa drug, but it got me through a cocci problem last month easily. Good luck. Just don't wait too long. If it is cocci, your birds will get progressivley weaker.