Could it be Cocci? 5 week old chicks puffed up seem sleepy Need Help!

[mysweetgypsy]

Hahahaha I forced the 2 original sick ones to drink several times that first day. I'd like to think the others won't get worse at least:/ Let me know when you see some improvement. Thnx

 

[spiritdance]

I just recently went through this ... to the poster who said silkies seem more susceptible, that was my experience too ... it took three days for me to notice improvement, and even at that I ended up bringing in the 3 sickest ones (after losing 3 up front) and giving them meds with a syringe several times a day to ensure they were getting it. I also "discovered" baby cereal is a wonder food! I was feeding the stand by boiled egg/soaked feed mix and one little silkie just wasn't getting stronger. I found a box of mixed baby cereal my DD left on her last visit, and the little chick loved it and began gaining strength. I think the cereal may be easier for them to digest given the damage the cocci does to their digestive tracts. Just thought I'd mention this, as the sooner they begin eating properly and stop losing strength, the sooner they will be able to fight off the cocci. From now on baby cereal is "standard issue" around my place, going right on the shelf next to the other "meds" I always keep stocked.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
What an excellent idea! Thank you!!!

I've experienced one horribly deadly cocci outbreak and two minor ones since then (because I recognized the symptoms much more quickly). So I, too, will keep some baby cereal on hand! Thanks again!

 

[chickenfeverforever]

I also hear about yogurt. Suppose to help line their tummys with good bacteria and pro biotics. I am going to pick some up at the store and make a mash with their starter food.

As of right now.....Everyone seems ok, no improvement and still all kinda sulking. I do have a blue Silkie thats not doing well at all and I just forced her/him to drink some of the Corid water and will continue to do so for the rest of the day. They way he/she is acting....I think he/she might pass away today. But I am going to try. Off to yogurt and some vitamins from the baby asile.

 

[spiritdance]

Quote:
Don't give up hope. My sickest little silkie was at death's door before she rebounded. Again, if you can get the bird to eat something it has a far better chance. With Stinky (because she is now stinkin' rotten from her time in the house!) I would mix the baby cereal thin enough to draw up in a syringe but thick enough to hold a "worm" shape if I squirted it out. I started by putting the cereal in her beak, but we soon settled on a routine where I would make "worms" for her on my finger and she would gobble them up. She rebounded fast once she got some nutrition in her.

 

[sherpagirl]

Hi,
This isn't a club i want to be in, but i'm joining anyway! I am having the exact same problem with my 5 week old Barnevelder and Maran chicks. They are on medicated starter but seem to have gotten cocci or something anyway. It started last Fri night. Only symptom is they are very tired. I can perk them up and they will be normal for 5 seconds and then they fall right back to sleep! Some of them have gotten better on their own. I was driving all over Central New York this weekend trying to find Sulmet, no luck. I ordered it, it should come by tomorrow. In the meantime Ididn't know what to do so i gave them some Verm-x in their water and VetRx, also gave them kefir. Today i ground up some garlic scapes and mixed them with some honey, probiotic powder, baby oatmeal and boathouse green goodness juice. I've just been scrounging around trying to think of good things that might help them. I might give them some cooked pumpkin next,my dogs eat that for digestive problems. I don't even know if they have cocci, afriend of mine thinks they have contagious bronchitis, she says it starts with the listlessness? She said they would be dead by now if they had cocci? She thinks they got this disease from the 3 Ameraucana chicks that i bought at 2 weeks that are living with the Barnies and the MArans that I hatched from my flock. The Ameraucanas did not get sick. I have no idea, i don't really know a lot about chickens, I'm learning as i go, it's my third summer. So, since friday night, some of them look better, there is only one today that looks really bad, I'm going to have to "force" feed him and medicate. Going to use the Sulmet if it gets here in time. If anyone has anymore feeding tips I'd love to hear them. I heard you are not supposed to give them extra vitamins while you are medicating because the thiamin interferes? Does anyone know about that? I also read not to give them a lot of protein because the cocci "feeds" on it? So maybe egg is not good? But then i read about people giving them Polyvisol vitamins, someone said to use the ones without iron? I'm wondering why the iron is bad? I was thinking maybe the chicks need iron since they act like they are anemic? This is one of those times when I feel like I'm drowning in information yet starving for knowledge.....can anyone out there answer my Qs? Thanks, Donna

 

[chickenfeverforever]

If you have a TSC or a Feed store, they should sell Corid. Its with the cattle supplies/medications. If they had a URI they would have other signs such as coughing, sneezing, nasel drainage.

My blue Silkie did not survive but I am goin to give the rest yogurt. I have decided to treat all my birds just in case.

 

[sherpagirl]

Both of my TSCs were out of everything. Sorry about your silkie, this is no fun. I just hope mine is only cocci and not something worse that will spread to the grownups too.

 

[kelar]

I just have to comment on the statement by sherpagirl hoping it is "only" cocci. While there are a number of other contagious and devastating diseases that poultry can get, coccidiosis is one of the biggest killers of young chicks and can cause death very quickly. It's a serious problem and seems to be way too prevalent on this forum. I urge anyone who has chicks or is thinking about getting or hatching chicks to prepare ahead of time and stock up on the anti-coccidial drugs. I keep both corid and sulfas on hand because corid only treats one type of cocci and the sulfas are broader spectrum. They do NOT have to be exposed to dirt to get cocci so it pays to be prepared and keep a close eye on your chicks. Adults can get it too and suffer a general wasting and even death.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

I just gave mine some mash with vanilla yogurt mixed in. I could not find plain yogurt for some reason. They are enjoying it. I hope the Corid treats more then 1 Cocci. Would seem pointless to sell it if it doesnt treat more then one if not the main one. Esp for how much it cost. Its the only thing my TSC sells and all I have. So here's hoping.