Cocci is LETHAL...DO NOT take it lightly...

[kaybats]

yes, Karen. My friend told me that the strongest will survive. I believe that, I do. I'm a country born "city-girl" gone farm girl. Can you imagine my dilema? I'm just having a hard time right this minute accepting all that. I have lost 3 already: 1 RIR due to ignorance, I suppose, 1 two day old chick, cause unknown, and now this pretty girl....tell me when the tears stop.

Death IS random....it could be you, it could be me....but why pick on my innocent babies?

 

[kaybats]

Oh, boy! How distraught was I last night? My last post was kinda "out there". Thanks to ALL of you for the comfort and support. Everything said here has REALLY helped me. Really, thank you.

Heading out to the barn in about 5 minutes or so....soon as this coffee kicks in!

I'll post an update real soon!

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

 

[seminolewind]

K, I'm glad you're not feeling so miserable today.

Go kiss a chicken!

 

[TinaCiesla]

I'm in the same situation right now. I've lost 5 chicks in 24 hours, 2 more in quarantine to coccidosis. This really sucks! These chicks are 5 weeks old today, hatched on 4th of July. They're all Seramas and my favorite colors and personalities are the ones who've already passed! UGH! DH is on his way to Co-op right now for Corrid. That will forever be in my emergency medical kit. I feel the stupidity now too. I'm just hoping and praying the remaining chicks will have time to be treated before it's too late.
Thanks to all of you who post so regularly to help us newbies learn the ropes. I just wish we learned it before any birds lost their lives. Best advice ever is to keep the corrid on hand!
I do have a question for you, I've been letting the Seramas on the grass during the day in their new chicken tractor. Usually they are kept on wire in a coop. They seem to enjoy the time out of the coop and under the protection of their tractor. Do you think that being on the grass, eating crickets and bugs contributed to the spread of coccidosis?
Take care everyone,
Tina

 

[speckledhen]

The best thing to do is get them on the ground the first week of life, even if it's to bring in some dirt in a plate for them to play in while in the brooder. That way, they build immunity naturally. The worst thing to do is have them never touching the ground for 6 weeks, then suddenly, they are outside and the oocycsts in the soil overwhelm their systems and they have cocci.

This is an interesting fact and one everyone should take note of: Chicks with broody hens who peck at the ground and their mama's poop from day one do not get coccidiosis (or at least, it's extremely rare)The ones raised in my brooder, if I don't expose them to soil till they are weeks old, always get it. It has nothing to do with how clean or not the brooder is, either, or whether they are on medicated feed (which they are since it's all I can get here).

 

[Oobhakeb]

Sounds like you all have experience with this.....read my last post....does it sound like this>?

 

[hallerlake]

Quote:
You're only stupid if you don't learn from the experience. Now, you know, and so do a bunch of others, including myself. You may have saved people from future losses, by sharing your experience.

 

[TinaCiesla]

Quote:
That makes SO much sense! AND, it's exactly what has happened in my case! Live and learn, I guess. Thanks for all the information!
All of my "backyard" chickens were on the ground and raised by broody hens. The Seramas were hatched in an incubator and keep in a brooder for 2 weeks. We then put them outside in a cage on wire (off the ground.) We did bring in some dirt, mostly bagged sand, in a dish to play in. But, once my sweet husband finished their tractor, we immediately put them on the ground. They've been spending their daytime playing on the ground and going back to the wire bottomed cage at night for sleep. Hopefully, once I begin with the Corrid, the rest will have a chance. Hurry up, husband, and get back from the co-op!
Tina

 

[seminolewind]

Cynthia, you have a very good observation there. I'll do this too.