Cocci and chicks eating the shavings

[azygous]

Have you just come off a heat wave? How hot has it been this past week? Were the chicks in the heat?

As for grit, broody hens teach new chicks to pick up grit from the very start. I brood new chicks on sand rather than shavings and they also pick up grit from day one.

Eating shavings can often be a substitute for the instinct to pick up grit. It won't harm the chicks usually as long as they drink plenty of water.

The diarrhea is concerning if it's all very watery, not just the sloppy cecals.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Absolutely give chicks grit from day one. That's what I do. They will eat bedding, puppy pad, paper towels, etc. or Mama is taking them out and eating grass/bugs, etc. The gizzard is functioning, so why shouldn't it have grit so it can function well and process foods or whatever else the chicks ingest.


Check to make sure crops are emptying.
Please post some photos of poop and chicks.

If you've finished the Corid treatment, then give them their normal feed.
Once a day give a little buttermilk with white cooked rice.
Once a day give 400IU Vitamin E along with 1/4 tablet B-Complex (to each chick).

I was told not to give day old chicks chick grit, because all they're eating is Chick feed, grit is unnecessary.

It's good to know this now.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Could this possibly be Salmonella?

I know there's different strains of Coccidiosis, but just thinking of the possibility of it being something else.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was told not to give day old chicks chick grit, because all they're eating is Chick feed, grit is unnecessary.

It's good to know this now.

If the only thing they are eating is chick starter then technically they don't "need" grit, but for me, I have always provided grit first thing.
Next time you hatch chicks, sprinkle a little grit on a paper towel or puppy pad beside the starter, then transfer your chicks to their brooder...you'll note that the chicks will generally pick up grit before they eat.

Of course, I prefer broody raised, but I go ahead and put chick grit out before they hatch, as soon as she brings them off the nest, she points out grit/food/water.
Neat to watch.

 

[MysteryChicken]

If the only thing they are eating is chick starter then technically they don't "need" grit, but for me, I have always provided grit first thing.
Next time you hatch chicks, sprinkle a little grit on a paper towel or puppy pad beside the starter, then transfer your chicks to their brooder...you'll note that the chicks will generally pick up grit before they eat.

Of course, I prefer broody raised, but I go ahead and put chick grit out before they hatch, as soon as she brings them off the nest, she points out grit/food/water.
Neat to watch.

I'll try this out. Thanks.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I found this on different strains of Salmonella, it maybe useful.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/salmonellosis

Here's one on Coccidiosis.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/coccidiosis

 

[MysteryChicken]

The links should help with symptom comparisons.

I never had a case of Salmonella thankfully, only Coccidiosis is what I see with my chicks.

 

[Cazook]

I was told not to give day old chicks chick grit, because all they're eating is Chick feed, grit is unnecessary.

It's good to know this now.

depends if they are outside or not i suppose. imo they should always be introduced to some sort of grit by the 2 week mark even if brooded inside (i use soil and sand) to help their gut biome and build immunity from the local soils.

product marketed as 'chick grit' sometimes seems a bit big for young chicks though.

 

[azygous]

The stumbling about and the poor balance that has been mentioned may point to heat sickness. The symptoms are similar to bacterial infection. Also, increased consumption of water during hot weather can indicate heat related issues, as well, watery poop being one of the results of high water consumption.

I like to think of grit for baby chicks as being like flood insurance. If they happen to eat something other than chick feed, they're covered.

 

[Stephine]

Have you just come off a heat wave? How hot has it been this past week? Were the chicks in the heat?

As for grit, broody hens teach new chicks to pick up grit from the very start. I brood new chicks on sand rather than shavings and they also pick up grit from day one.

Eating shavings can often be a substitute for the instinct to pick up grit. It won't harm the chicks usually as long as they drink plenty of water.

The diarrhea is concerning if it's all very watery, not just the sloppy cecals.

It was hot here, but we get hot a lot, and chicks have a heat plate, so nothing that warms up the rest of their area unnecessarily. We have a mini split and had the AC on on two hot late afternoons (they are in our studio which is also used as an office). So the temp was fine for them.
What type of sand do you use? I am tempted to try that instead of going back to shavings (they are still on paper towels), because at least it’s just like grit.
Droppings look normal now. I gave a little bit extra molasses mixed with their feed to entice them to eat that and extra energy when I first notice they were acting weird, and forgot that it can make for loose droppings.
Three of the chicks are back to looking pretty normal - no more weird waddling walks, just a rare wing down for support. They are even trying to fly again. Only one is droopy, feathers puffed, fine tremors, and now one eye looks weird. She keeps pasting up, too, poor thing. I keep giving her nutridrench, water, dissolved crumbles. Hopefully she’ll turn the corner soon, too. The eye thing is disconcerting - can’t tell if it’s closed or what. I don’t see blood or a wound, it looks yellowish and hard. Maybe I can get a picture. Oufff. I am more and more convinced it is AE... which is a real drag, because I got these four to lay some eggs! I have a flock of six 5 year olds, four of which stopped laying, one 3 and three 2 year olds. I need some younger layers...