Dying chickens--any help is appreciated!!!

[halvr]

I have about 25 chicks that are about 9-10weeks old. They have all been doing great until last week. There are several different breeds I purchased from Ideal, standards are separate from bantams. Last week, I noticed my red shouldered Yokohama was looking thin, so I deepened everyone with Wazine. I ended up losing him. Yesterday, I found one of my silver gray dirking AND one of ny salmon faverolles looking puny. They were bone thin--you could cut a steak with their keel bones! Today those 2 are dead and I have another fav sick... my dad is in Washington state and he said same thing happened to him. He lost 4 birds without any outward signs. All we're ok, then they stop eating and die a day or 2 later. Any suggestions?!? My dad said he tried electrolyte solutions, vitamins, deepening, force feeding, etc but nothing helped. No nasal discharge, sneezing, diarrhea....... I don't want ti lose all my babies! Any help/suggestions/insight would be very much appreciated!

 

[aoxa]

First of all, I am very sorry to hear about this. How sad...

Secondly, what are you feeding them?

Cocci is a very common happening with chicks.

Do they show any sign of lethargy?

Any look of coldness? Puffed up feathers, etc?

Signs range from decreased growth rate to a high percentage of visibly sick birds, severe diarrhea, and high mortality. Feed and water consumption are depressed. Weight loss, development of culls, decreased egg production, and increased mortality may accompany outbreaks. Mild infections of intestinal species, which would otherwise be classed as subclinical, may cause depigmentation. Survivors of severe infections recover in 10-14 days but may never recover lost performance.

 

[halvr]

Btw, "deepening" was supposed to be deworming. Dirking was supposed to be Dorking. I just love spell check on my phone!

 

[aoxa]

Btw, "deepening" was supposed to be deworming. Dirking was supposed to be Dorking. I just love spell check on my phone!

I figured this is what you meant.

 

[halvr]

I haven't seen any diarrhea. Feathers around vent were fairly clean. For our guys, it seemed like one minute they are stomping on each other to get to the feeder. Then the next day they look lethargic and puffed. I know they don't get that skinny overnight or over a day or two. I dint see anything until it is too late. My dad had one hen survive, and he said she is still weak and skinny some 6mos later, so it sounds like cocci. Now the million dollar question: what do I do to protect not only my birds but those of my father in law in the next pen....? Internet, here I co
me!

Thank you very much for this starting point!

 

[chickenzoo]

I would put them on Corid ASAP...... I could have stock in the stuff. Most young chicks that have those problems are from coccidia.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I would put them on Corid ASAP...... I could have stock in the stuff. Most young chicks that have those problems are from coccidia.

x2. Treat them all, as in now, today. Coccidiosis is always a prime suspect when you have multiple sudden deaths in chicks that age. It is sneaky and it moves very fast, you won't see signs until they are very, very sick. At that point it's hard to save them.

Corid is available as a liquid or powder, I keep it on hand. Dose for the 20% powder is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 to 7 days. Make it up fresh every day. I don't recall the dose for the liquid, a quick search of this forum should turn up that info. Don't let the feed store talk you into Sulmet, it does not treat all the strains of cocci and is much harsher on their systems, not something they need when they are already compromised.

 

[halvr]

I am confused. "Cocci' is a bacteria. Coccidia is a protozoan parasite, and "coccidiosis" is a coccidia infection. Are y'all talking about an overgrowth of bacteria (like a gastritis in a dog) or a parasitic infection? I did deworming them with wazine, but I dint know if that is strong enough....

 

[chickenzoo]

The parasite. Wazine is only for round worms.....it will not treat coccidia. Corid is amoprilum....same stuff in mediated chick starter..only much stronger.

 

[dawg53]

I am confused. "Cocci' is a bacteria. Coccidia is a protozoan parasite, and "coccidiosis" is a coccidia infection. Are y'all talking about an overgrowth of bacteria (like a gastritis in a dog) or a parasitic infection? I did deworming them with wazine, but I dint know if that is strong enough....

In this instance, I believe you're dealing with protozoa and there are 9 types that chickens can get. Chickenzoo and Cafarmgal are correct, corid would be needed to treat your birds. If the corid 20% soluable powder isnt available, you can purchase the 9.6% corid liquid solution at your feed store. Either will be located in the cattle section and both will treat all 9 types of cocci. The 9.6% liquid solution dosage is 9.5cc's per gallon of water for 5-7 days.