He died. :( What could this have been? Contagious?

[ChickenPox]

Pretty sure this little roo isn't going to make it. Hubby is on his way home to cull him for me.

He was the second chick I ever hatched.

His hatch mate is in much better shape than he is.....but is this something that I should worry about being contagious???? Can 4 month olds get cocci?

Original post follows:

I have two mutts that are ill. One is worse off than the other. I just noticed this today.

Symptoms:

Weak and slow
WATERY poo
One of them has a puffed up appearance
Pale face and combs....still pink, but used to be red (both roos, I think)
One is VERY skinny.....couldn't tell due to the puffed appearance, but I doubt that happened overnight.

Still eat and drink, but certainly not with gusto....

I did have some brooder babies that had cocci recently, but these have no direct connection with those. I swear I am gonna quit chickens.....apparently I can't keep them healthy.

 

[ChickenPox]

Here is a pic of the poo.....if it helps. The others have been LOTS watery-er. It's more of a rusty brown color than red or green.

I've got him wrapped in a towel with a blow dryer on him for now.... I seriously don't think he's gonna make it.

 

[Caliphe]

I'm sorry that I can't help you, but I'll give you a bump!

 

[ChickenPox]

Well he's gone......he didn't make it for hubby to get home. I kinda figured he wouldn't, he faded SO fast!

SO now I worry about if this is contagious....or what it could have been? He was SKIN and bones, literally. I have never felt a chicken so skinny. I feel horribly guilty because I hadn't laid a good hand on him in 2 weeks.

I know he didn't lose THAT much weight overnight.

His hatchmate (partner in crime, buddy till the end....) was having the watery poo and paleness in the comb too, but isn't anywhere near as skinny as he is and isn't anywhere near as lethargic. He has a MUCH better appetite than his brother did, and just overall seems better. Even had a normal stool this evening.

I'm going to keep the treatment for cocci going for him. He is showing NO respiratory symptoms, but I figure the sulmet can't hurt as long as I don't overdose.....

I was planning on integrating them with the flock next week. If the one gains strength, how long should I keep him separate now? Do those symptoms sound like its something contagious? WHat on earth could have caused this??

Thank you Caliphe.

 

[AyeUpChuck]

I wish I knew what it was. I had a little pullet pass this afternoon and i have no idea why! I got her at a swap from a very reputable fellow BYCer on Sat. She was one of two. She was a gorgeous little frizzle and I thought she felt kid of skinny but I didn't have her long enough to really judge her normal behaviour. She was constantly nestled under the other black cochin but she would eat and drink. I am having an issue with four other birds who are a little older and larger who seem to be bullying everyone. I thought that maybe they'd just chased her into the coop and she didnt get enough nourishment? I'm so confused! She showed no sign of infection. Now I'm crazy worried about the rest of them.

I'm sorry for your loss! I just hope your other guy pulls through!

 

[Celtic Chick]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

I don't think it is coccidiosis. His poo would have been bloody. Your chick's poo looks ok to me, albeit runny.
What type of feed was he on? What else have you been giving him? If they were eating but still losing weight, I'd suspect worms. How old are these chicks?
I also would wait at least a month before adding the one to your flock. I'tll be hard to add him alone, but it's better to be safe than sorry in case he is carrying something. You don't want to lose more of them. Keep me informed on his progress, please.
Here are some links I find helpful:
http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0
http://www.raising-chickens.org/poultry-ailments.html
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/toc_200000.htm

 

[Reyvaughn]

I have 2 Brown Leghorns going through this same thing! It looks like cocci, but there is no bloody poop. Th eone is the worst, and she's had it for 9 days that I know of. The other is on day 6 and is just now starting to really look sick. They were on Sulmet for 2 days but was told to switch to Corid. They were on Corid for 5 days with no change. I just switched them back to Sulmet and are on day 3 of that. I bought Tylan 50 today and I think I am going to go nuclear on her now. She's wasting away to nothing and I don't know why. Thses 2 are the only 2 out of 29 5-8wk olds with this issue.

I posted asking what could be causing this, and I too go no clear answers. It does look like there is a chance it could be Infectious Anemia (found it HERE). No one else is sick at the moment, so I don't know. I even checked mine for lice, mites and ticks - 3x now. They are both eating and drinking, but fading away....

I hope you get some answers... I'll be watching your post to see if someone comes up with something before it's to late for my 2 girls.