Heat stroke or coccidiosis? Help diagnose

[Alphagamchick]

Hi everyone. I know you all will be able to help me with this situation. I had to attend an out- of- town funeral. I left Monday morning and returned Tues. night, which left my family in charge of the chickens. I had some 4 week old chicks in the garage which I take out during the day and bring in at night. When I left they were perfectly healthy. No one in the family thought to put those babies out yesterday and they baked in the garage until my husband came home from work and realized they were in there. Three have died. There are four that are still listless and light. The rest seem fine. I noticed that their droppings have some pink in it. Not the bright red as I have seen in coccidiosis photos. They are on medicated feed. When I saw the pink in the droppings I wondered about cocci. I always kept them clean and they had fresh water. I am putting vits and electrolytes in their water now. What is the best procedure now with the listless chicks? Is the pink in their droppings due to the heat or should I treat for cocci? To say my family is on my black list is an understatement!

 

[Judy]

I would probably give Corid, on the guess that the heat stress caused them to have less ability to resist the illness. Here's the dose, in case you don't know it or have it handy.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/775739/blood-in-older-chicks-stool/0_20#post_11087272

 

[Wyandottes7]

I would treat for Coccidiosis. Four weeks is a prime time for chicks to get this disease. Treat with Corid 9.6% liquid, at the rate of 1/2 teaspoon per quart of water.

 

[Alphagamchick]

Thanks for the advice. Will head to the tractor supply.

 

[Alphagamchick]

Will they drink on their own or should I try to give the water with an eye dropper?

 

[ten chicks]

Hi everyone. I know you all will be able to help me with this situation. I had to attend an out- of- town funeral. I left Monday morning and returned Tues. night, which left my family in charge of the chickens. I had some 4 week old chicks in the garage which I take out during the day and bring in at night. When I left they were perfectly healthy. No one in the family thought to put those babies out yesterday and they baked in the garage until my husband came home from work and realized they were in there. Three have died. There are four that are still listless and light. The rest seem fine. I noticed that their droppings have some pink in it. Not the bright red as I have seen in coccidiosis photos. They are on medicated feed. When I saw the pink in the droppings I wondered about cocci. I always kept them clean and they had fresh water. I am putting vits and electrolytes in their water now. What is the best procedure now with the listless chicks? Is the pink in their droppings due to the heat or should I treat for cocci? To say my family is on my black list is an understatement!

Make sure they have cooled down,heat issues will kill chickens. Chickens do not have sweat glands,they rely on their respiratory system to cool themselves down,that is why they pant,spread wings,etc. May take chicks a couple of days to feel better. Make sure they are eating/drinking. With heat stress/stroke there can be bloody droppings/diarrhea from rectum,due to the fact that internal organs sustain damage during heat stress/stroke. That being said,definitely treat for Coccidiosis as it kills very fast.

Do not give vitamins during treatment for Cocci,vitamins interfere with the ability of the medication to work. Cocci medication blocks Thiamin(vit B1) from body,cocci needs Thiamin to reproduce,Amprolium stops the reproduction bringing the cocci under control,this is how medication works. Purchase Corid(amprolium)dose for Corid 20% powder is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water,dose for Corid 9.6% liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water. Treat ALL chicks for 5 days.

 

[BantamLover21]

Will they drink on their own or should I try to give the water with an eye dropper?

They might drink it, but just to be sure, I would drip some water on the side of their beak and see if they drink it that way. Just be careful not to drown them by getting some in their windpipe or nostrils.