health problem or temp. problem?

[farmerPEEPS]

Hey! My chicks are about 2 months old now but one of them (The Americana) is acting strange. She is puffing up (like she's angry) but seems rather cold instead (which is weird considering its summer time). I don't know what to do because she's mostly just siting under the heat lamp all day; Is she sick or just cold???

 

[Chickenlover211]

if you can call a farm vet and have thwm come see her i would totally have them do that. i hope she gets better and you can find out whats wrong with her!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If she is also not really eating or drinking, sounds like coccidiosis. You may or may not see bloody poo and diarrhea with it.

When I find a chicken that is 8 weeks or under acting like that I give Corid 9.6% liquid, 9.5 ml per gallon of water for 5 days, mixing new solution daily, as the sole drinking water source. I treat all the chickens exposed to the poo of the sick one. It is a thiamine blocker, so avoid giving vitamins at the same time from what I have read.

Improvement should be seen within 24 hours. It can be fatal within 24 hours...they are feeling gut pain and it can affect their future productivity as well. There are other diseases where they can be not feeling well, too. It is just that I have seen coccidiosis over and over again...I am very quick to treat the young ones for it if they sit like that:

Signs of coccidiosis:
sits in corner by himself
feathers fluffed up as if cold
won't eat or drink
may or may not have bloody poo
may or may not have diarrhea
may or may not have been exposed to the ground (humans can bring cocci into the brooder)
usually 8 weeks of age or under but older hens can get it if immunocompromised or exposed to different soil with a different strain of cocci on that soil


http://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/ahp/disease_links/images/coccidia.pdf

Sulmet treats fewer strains of it. I have only used Corid- in the cattle section of the feed store.

This is just what has worked for me and there are many threads on coccidiosis you can peruse if interested, too!

It is considered an emergency.

Some vets will do a fecal test for cocci for a small fee if you need to have a definite diagnosis.

 

[farmerPEEPS]

should I feed and water her? she eats when I hand-feed her but I haven't seen her eat or drink late
ly

 

[farmerPEEPS]

OK, so what type of medicine can I give her to cure it and where can I get that medicine?

 

[farmerPEEPS]

the only problem is my dad said if we need a vet her would rather just get a new chicken since it's cheaper

 

[Araucana16]

You do not need a vet, you just need the corid powder. That powder is actually cheaper than purchasing another chicken.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Ditto what ChickensAreSweet said. Go to the feed store and look for Corid. It's often found in the cattle dept. and is labeled for calves. Mix it up and give it to all of them in their water. Get this sick girl out and carefully give some to her with an eye dropper or needless syringe. Do this every few hours the first day. She should perk up and start eating/drinking on her own by the next day.

Dose for the powdered Corid is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 to 7 days, make it up fresh every day. The liquid dose is 9.5 ml per gallon, same instructions. Finish the full course of treatment.

 

[farmerPEEPS]

My dad got Sulfasol powder. Should I give it to the others too? And how much powder should I mix in one gallon? PS: she has coccidiliss and she hasn't ate anything for a few days; Plus she has only drank a few dropps of water every hour.

 

[Araucana16]

Yes, give it to all of the birds. 9 mil per gallon of water, 9.5%. For 5 days.

As for the sick one, you should get a syringe like this (probably less than this at your local vet, just ask for one and say you'll reimburse them for the cost of the syringe) http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Health/20-ml-Feeding-Syringe-p331.aspx Fill it with water and gently open the birds mouth. Then slowly let the *treated* water go into the birds mouth.

After she's had one or two of those in water, try some layer feed with yogurt, they sometimes eat that. Make sure she stays hydrated. Food is good, but not near as nessecary as water.