Coccidiosis - how to prevent moving thru flock

[cajebrso]

Advice appreciated! We have a flock of 4 in outside run, age 6-10 weeks.
1. One chick (6 weeks) got sick (lethargic, fluffed).
2. We treated whole flock with 1.5 tsp in 1 gallon Corid fluid for 7 days.
3. Sick chick had not improved so after 5 days of Corid, we took her to vet, got confirmation of coccidiosis, started 2x/day sulfadimexithone (sp?) orally for her. Since the whole flock was already exposed, we did not quarantine. Hope was the older chicks had already developed immunity.
4. We had a heat wave here in SoCal.
5. Treated chick is doing great but now another of the older chicks (10-12 weeks) is unusually lethargic. Still eating/drinking but laying apart from the others which is unusual for her. Other 2 chicks are fine.

Unsure about what to do because I assume it is cocci (although could be heat-related) but seemed resistant to OTC Corid. Sulmed is only available with prescription. I already spent almost $300 on vet for chick #1. I'm not keen on doing that 4 times in a row if they all get sick but maybe I can get a prescription with less $$. Even so, should I be doing something to protect the other 2? I have been picking up poop daily and not letting any sit in food or water. Continue low protective Corid treatment or mix in 50:50 medicated food?

I'm also confused about how this all started as the farm I got them from didn't recommend medicated food and no one in my neighborhood uses medicated. I live in a dry, deserty area in SoCal.

Thanks for any help you can give! Cascade

Ps here's a pic of the recovering chick!

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

Is there a way you can separate the sick chicks away from the seemingly healthy ones?

@aart @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[aart]

we took her to vet,

What did vet recommend?
IIRC you'd treat the whole flock,
But I have no hands on expression with coccidiosis.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

Treating the whole flock is a good idea-- except, you probably should not treat the chicken on the medication from the vet, as I don't know how the two "medications" would respond with each other. Does that make sense?

 

[dawg53]

The medicated feed probably contains a small amount of amprolium. It would be best to use a sulfa drug to treat sick birds with coccidiosis. See if you can get some more sulfadimethoxine from your vet.
Use ammonia water to clean and disinfect waterers.

 

[cajebrso]

Thanks so much all! We did get sulfa antibiotic and have been washing the waterer regularly. The rest are doing well - fingers crossed that they have passed the threshold for high susceptibility (they are 11-15 weeks old now, and the youngest is the one we treated).

 

[LizThumm]

To help keep the flock healthy I’m still learning but I know they sometimes eat the poop so keep the area clean as well add all new bedding. I know many like to build up the bedding to get ready for winter but I’d clear it out. Also I use apple cider vinegar in their water

 

[cajebrso]

I agree - I've been cleaning up poop daily since the cocci started...and it's just a habit now so I plan to continue. I put ACV in their water in the plastic waterer - not in the metal one because I think it's not good in metal (plz correct me if I'm wrong!).

 

[LizThumm]

I agree - I've been cleaning up poop daily since the cocci started...and it's just a habit now so I plan to continue. I put ACV in their water in the plastic waterer - not in the metal one because I think it's not good in metal (plz correct me if I'm wrong!).

You’re right only in plastic