Coccidiosis and dead chicks

[2samoyeds]

We purchased 4 Orpington girls from My Pet Chicken and they arrived mid June a day old. We also had gotten a couple older Orpington girls from a friend who were a little older.

The two older ones were vaccinated for coccidiosis and the others had medicated starter which I stopped giving at around a little over a month (I now realize it needs to be longer). The older ones we fed some medicated starter also which I guess is bad, I’ve also heard the vaccine is bad. One younger chicks I found suddenly dead and wasn’t sure what happened. The two older ones looked sick and had a lot of stool in their blood. We isolated them, treated everyone with corid (1.5 tsp/gallon, hopefully that’s right). The 3 younger remaining ones were acting fine. Today I found 2 more dead and I assume it’s from coccidiosis but I’m not sure.

I have 4 baby cochins also and it looks like they had a little blood in their stool but are acting ok. We’re treating them as well but now I’m so worried.

I’m wondering what the best course of action is to do once you find out they have coccidiosis, especially if it seems far along. Is it good to give a concentrated dose (like a couple drops of the liquid corid)? Or what are some other options? Is it good to always give a preventative dose while they’re chicks if it’s this much of an issue? It just worries me because corid mixed in water isn’t a metered dose and it’s hard to know how much they’re drinking and how much they need to fight it off. I was giving it to the older chicks with a syringe to make sure they were getting the medication but I don’t know if that was enough.
Im just looking for some tips on the best way to handle it, I really don’t want to lose any more.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your loss.
Post some photos of the poop and chicks.

Your friend vaccinated the birds that you got from her correct?
The ones from MPC were not vaccinated (MPC does not offer Coccidiosis vaccine).

If chicks are vaccinated for Coccidia, then medicated feed should not be given it could cancel the vaccine.

How old are the Cochins? If over 2 weeks, then treat with Corid. Powdered Corid dose is 1 1/2 tsp per gallon of water and Liquid Corid is 2 tsp per gallon of water. Give for 5-7 days as the only source of drinking water. Don't add any extra vitamins/electrolytes during the treatment period.

For ones that are not well, you can direct oral drench them for 3 days IN ADDITION to them drinking the mixed Corid water. Instructions are in the first post of this thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/

The only way to know for sure the cause of death would be to have some testing/necropsy. If you still have the bodies, refrigerate them and either take or send them to your state lab.
Gathering a few samples of poop and taking them to your vet for a fecal float would be a good idea too. https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm