Follow up

[Michelle73]

We are treating our 6 weeks old chicks with Corrid. We have done the beak drench 2 nights, tonight will do the third. We also have the Corrid mixed in their water and its the only water they have access too. There were more bloody poops yesterday. There is only one chick that is acting abnormal (puffed up feathers and not active). All are drinking and eating.

Question- do we treat for 5 days or 7 days and what is my next step? I have read about giving them vitamins but what type and where is the best place to get them quickly. We have a tractor supply near by and I seen that they sell a sav-a-chick probiotic mix?

Question- what is the best product to clean their coop with?

It is rainy today so we are keeping them in the coop instead of the run today.

Last question (for now)- should I let them out in the large run while on the corrid or wait till done being treated. Let me explain- we have 8 -6 week old chicks, we have 3- 18 weeks old chickens (one rooster and 2 hens). They are all inside a large run (12x30) but segregated by some internal fencing as we just started to introduce them to each other. There are 2 coops. One for the chicks and one for the older chicks. Currently the older chicks have access to the larger part of the run and the younger ones have less space. Wondering if I should switch this around and give the large access to the little gals or switch it up during the day. Thoughts?

And thank you to BYC! This place is amazing for questions and support.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Question- do we treat for 5 days or 7 days

Yes, treat according to directions for the full time.

Vitamins are a choice, not required and maybe not needed if you aren't giving too many treats... or they just looked puffed but not pooing lots of blood. IF I was going to buy one it would be poultry nutri drench as it has amino acids in it as well... Or maybe one of the roster booster products, OR just a small bird liquid vitamin from the pet department.. not the sav a chick stuff... electrolytes aren't needed unless your birds are dehydrated.. had serious diarrhea and aren't drinking. That's just my personal choice/take. And NOTHING should be supplemented more than 10 days.

Whether you should switch your spaces or not depends on the dynamics taking place in your flocks. I live in the pacific north west... rain is abundant... they learn how to avoid it quickly... but sometimes enjoy foraging the bugs that emerge while it is raining.

One key is making sure the water gets changed EVERY time you see a poo accidentally get in it as that is the fastest way for it to spread.

Best product to clean with depends on your set up... I have NEVER put any cleaner or water inside my coop... I scrape roosts off and shovel or rake the rest. I add new shavings, hay, rice hulls (whatever product you use) as needed to keep things dry and refreshed. I use droppings boards under my roost which keeps my coop floor MUCH cleaner.... Using semi deep litter is my choice after MUCH trial and error and research. It works especially well in my covered run... keeping the yuck smell down around the edges where water still gets when it rains. I have a washed river sand base (not the bliss many claim)... which when used alone and kitty litter sifted as suggested by others... became a giant large gross littler box that eventually stunk to high heaven and I was breathing dried out poo dust every time I sifted. The liquid goes somewhere and doesn't all get lifted away... no matter how often you sift. Turns out dry, barren, runs are a breeding ground for yuck. Doing deep or semi deep litter ( I remove what waste I can see) has completely changed the smell around the edges EVEN when it rains... Trying to make it similar to the forest floor with grass clippings, pine needles, dry leaves, old shavings (even used), or hay... invites the good bacteria and bugs to also thrive and keep things much more naturally balanced... It's an overall healthier environment.

Not sure why you are doing so many beak drenches... I would only do that a VERY ill bird... If you don't see any improvement then you might be fighting a coccidia strain that has become resistant to the amprolium in Corid and need to switch to a prescription sulfa drug.

Good luck with integration and recovery!

 

[Michelle73]

They are all looking great. Playing around. Eating and drinking. No more bloody poops found.
Thank you all for the help and suggestions. This has been a great learning experience.