HELP - 3 Chicks Are Sick - All Have Different Symptoms!!!

[Kdkunk]

Please, any help is greatly appreciated, as I'm fairly new to owning chickens and never experienced any illnesses before. I bought 3 chicks and 1 juvenile four days ago. I made the mistake of feeling bad for one of the smaller chicks that appeared to be getting trampled frequently. I didn't realize it was sick until I got home. Individual details below.

GOLDLACED TOLBUNT SPLIT FRIZZLE: (Trampled sick chick) Unsure of age, the owner couldn't remember. She guessed 5-6 weeks. When I got home it was evident that it was extremely sick. Lethargic, wouldn't open eyes, refused to eat or drink. I originally isolated it, but they were all in the same pen where I bought them from and it appeared cold and I didn't have an extra heat source so I put it back in with the other chicks. I stayed up all night hand syringing sugar water. Never helped. Did some research and bought Corid, electrolytes, and Tylan. I put save a chick electrolytes and 1.5 teaspoons of Corid in a gallon of water. Hand syringed treated water the rest of the day and woke up to a moving, eating, and drinking chick. I read later that you shouldn't put electrolytes with corid so discontinued it. So we're on day 3 of Corid and the chick seems to be improving more each day. However, two days ago I noticed it was breathing very heavy, tail bobbing with each breath while awake or asleep. No audible noise, runny nose, or sneezing. I tried listening to it's breathing and I thought I heard a crackling noise but not sure if it was making the noise with its beak or not. Today, I gave 0.2 ml of Tylan 50 orally (I don't have syringes and don't feel comfortable doing IM- chick seems very thin and small). Poop seems normal, eating, drinking, has energy, no evidence of mites, lice, or anything like that. Just the respiratory issue right now.

PAINT SILKIE (1 of 2): She remembered that the paints hatched at the same time and knew the date, so they're 6.5 weeks old as of today. Appeared healthy at first. A couple days later my husband and I noticed that it would stop and close it's eyes very frequently. Seems to keep up with everyone else. I've seen it eat and drink but not sure if its a healthy amount or not, I wasn't really paying close attention since I was working on the original sick chick so much. Normal poop from what I can tell. Today a couple new things- I just learned about their crops... I've tried feeling all their crops several times and I'm not really sure what i'm feeling honestly, but only this particular chick I'm thinking I feel something hard. I'm not confident, but I'm feeling around the right side and seems like there is a round hard spot about the size of a marble I smelled around beak and didn't notice anything... got pecked in the nose though lol. I don't know how to treat an impacted crop yet, I don't want to do too much at once. Today it also started sneezing and a couple times I thought it was breathing a bit harder than normal so I gave 0.3 ml of Tylan orally. Tried listening to lungs, and same with the first chick, thought I heard a slight crackling noise but not sure if it was purposely making that noise. Still closing eyes frequently. I saw it eat and drink a little, but again I didn't have a lot of time to watch all of them, so I gave watermelon and they all ate it like crazy. Poop today seemed normal to the best of my knowledge. Also drinking the same water with Corid in it. No evidence of mites, lice, or anything like that. Size is okay.. maybe a little on the thinner side.

PAINT SILKIE (2 of 2): Same age as the first silkie, 6.5 weeks old as of today. Good size and weight. Seemed perfectly healthy until today. It was a nice day so I made them a little temporary run (I have other healthy chicks from somewhere else that never came in contact with these chicks and haven't been handled at all since they arrived. I'm the only one tending to their food/water/cleaning- lots of hand washing and wearing gloves). Anyways, I noticed immediately a few spots of bloody poop. Appeared watery thin, maybe a slightest color of brown to it. My husband came over to tell me something and he noticed it right away and asked which one is bleeding. Seemed like I watched them forever and never witnessed a single chicken poop, but this chick was the only one who had a blood tinge butt. I didn't read about intestinal lining poop until later and I really don't know what to think now. Has been drinking the same Corid water. I'll check in the morning and keeping my fingers crossed for no blood. Like the other silkie, this one also started sneezing as well, so I gave 0.3 ml of Tylan orally like the others. Breathing seemed normal. No nasal discharge. Didn't hear anything when I listened to it's lungs. Thought I felt grain in crop earlier today day, later I thought it felt squishy (maybe the watermelon). Seems alert and normal besides the bloody poop and sneezing.

JUVENILE BLACK FRIZZLED SILKIE: Age unknown, the lady told me she found it outside with its mama and didn't know she had a hidden nest. Much larger than the others and is very caring for the other 3 chicks. Appears to be mothering them so I'm leaning towards a pullet. When I bought the chicks this one was in a separate pen and I really wish I kept this one separated if anything. We all love this one. Seems very healthy, except for today... like everyone else (except the original sick chick who is only heavy breathing/tail bobbing) started sneezing. Gave 0.4 or 0.5 ml Tylan orally. I tried feeling its crop more times than I'd like to admit and I don't feel anything. Might be the frizzle feathers throwing me off. That's really it for this one so far.

I've been in contact with the person who sold me the chickens since day 1. This is long enough already, so I'm not going to get into that. I didn't see the red flags at first, I've learned my lesson, but I'm invested already and willing to do what I can to an extent. According to her, all of her chickens are completely healthy to date... very doubtful on that. I'm fairly certain nobody local to me vets chickens, and even if they did, I don't want to put that kind of money into them. If anyone can help at all, any insight, really anything at all I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!!!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Any pictures of your set up? Chicks? Poo?
How/Where are you housing them?
Are they under a heat lamp?
Where are you located (climate & temps)?
What are you feeding?

It could be the temps in the brooder. Watermelon, depending how much they ate will cause poo to be watery & tingle of red.

 

[Kdkunk]

Any pictures of your set up? Chicks? Poo?
How/Where are you housing them?
Are they under a heat lamp?
Where are you located (climate & temps)?
What are you feeding?

It could be the temps in the brooder. Watermelon, depending how much they ate will cause poo to be watery & tingle of red.

I just took some quick pictures, not the best quality, but I can take more if need be tomorrow. They’re in a playpen inside my house. During the day, if it’s nice out, i’ve been letting them outside a little. I live in Cincinnati OH, climate has been highs in the 80s and lows 65/70ish. I keep the temperature in my house at 76. I don’t have them under a heat lamp. I didn’t think they needed it because their age and feathers. The smaller/sicker one I wasn’t really sure, it crossed my mind, but the bigger black one seems to be caring for it. I’ve seen it under its wings a few times. They always feel warm. When they’re sick should you use a heat lamp? I’m feeding regular starter chick feed, nothing special.

I noticed the bloody poop before I fed the watermelon. That was the first time I fed them anything besides their chick feed. I just wanted to make sure everybody was eating. I wish I would have taken pictures. I noticed a tinge of red in some of the poop just now when I was taking the pictures. Very little, but earlier today it was pretty red.

 

[Kdkunk]

Any pictures of your set up? Chicks? Poo?
How/Where are you housing them?
Are they under a heat lamp?
Where are you located (climate & temps)?
What are you feeding?

It could be the temps in the brooder. Watermelon, depending how much they ate will cause poo to be watery & tingle of red.

I took a short video of the heavy breathing while sleeping but it won’t let me upload it

 

[ChickNanny13]

To upload a video you need to download to YouTube then upload the link here ...

The poo all look ok, you may think it's warm enough in the house but they need heat. Hatchlings start off @ 95* lessening 5* about every week until temps about 80 and feathered. Read the thread on MHP by Blooie, I prefer that to the heat lamp.

Using the MHP they go under or on top as they need. If you do a heat lamp/lite make sure they have a cool side too. I never used a heat lamp, just a regular 40 - 60watt light bulb.

 

[Kdkunk]

To upload a video you need to download to YouTube then upload the link here ...

The poo all look ok, you may think it's warm enough in the house but they need heat. Hatchlings start off @ 95* lessening 5* about every week until temps about 80 and feathered. Read the thread on MHP by Blooie, I prefer that to the heat lamp.

Using the MHP they go under or on top as they need. If you do a heat lamp/lite make sure they have a cool side too. I never used a heat lamp, just a regular 40 - 60watt light bulb.

Here is the link to the YouTube video. Not the best quality, but to me it doesn’t look normal at all.

I didn’t notice any blood today or sneezing. I just don’t know if the Tylan helped or what... I haven’t given any today but mostly because I haven’t had time. Not sure if I should keep giving it or not.

I have a heating plate that I’ve always used, I refuse to use the heat lamps because they are a fire hazard. It’s in a separate brooder with 3 week old chicks. They seem to be feathered alright except the sick one... I honestly don’t know what it should look like though. The black one is much older and definitely doesn’t need heat, I’m pretty sure it wants to be outside. The paints will be 7 weeks tomorrow, I thought for sure they were old enough... and the small sick one I wasn’t sure about since i don’t know exact age. I’ll have to look around and see if I can find a cheaper used one for sale.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Need to ask for the more experienced ...

@Lady of McCamley @azygous @casportpony @Eggcessive
Thank you in advance for your insight

 

[jllracer55]

Stupid question but, are you refreshing the corid water daily? That is one thing I was told to do now that I am having to treat my second group of chicks for cocci for whatever reason :/

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm sorry your little ones are sick. That is always so disheartening.

My best guess is...you are fighting coccidiosis.

Pretty classic symptoms. Diarrhea, blood tinged poop, huddled, lethargic. I think the heavy breathing is from that. Sneezing may be incidental and of no importance or indication of MG (see below) or some other respiratory infection. It could also indicate better ventilation is needed.

Likely, you got a little behind the coccidiosis due to the fact that it was likely lurking at the owner's. Transition stress (moving from one location to another) often will trigger worse symptoms.

It is also possible that they contracted it on your property. Every area can have its own strain. That's why we don't encourage wearing boots from your yard to mine as we can tromp the protozoa strains. Our birds build an immunity to the strain on their property, but they become sick with a new strain.

But it takes about 5 days for the process to begin, and about 3 weeks for levels to grow to dangerous levels....so I think they came with it.

Above poster is accurate....are you changing to Corid water daily? That is very important. Also double check the concentration to make sure you have that right. (Look at label).

Corid does take a bit to act, especially once you've got an outbreak, but some strains are more resistant to it. For that, sulfa meds are useful. I used to get Sulmet at the feed store, which you can't now (new FDA regulations against getting OTC antibiotics), but you can get the injectible type here: https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...9lcno968bnuiA3Rt9VimXvc_SXfa44nhoC0KEQAvD_BwE

I like the sulfa drugs as you can target the coccidia as well as gram negative bacteria which are opportunistic in the gut with inflammation (eColi, Pasturella, Salmonella).

I don't know if the Tylan is helping or not. It won't treat coccidiosis as it doesn't target the protozoa. It will treat MG (mycoplasma gallesepticum) which is the bacteria behind CRD (chronic respiratory disease).

MG can be passed from mother to chick through egg.

MG/CRD produces respiratory symptoms, usually fairly mild, but can be harder on chicks. It is treated with antibiotics like Tylan but generally never cured. It turns into stress induced chicken asthma whenever the bird is under stress or transition (even weather changes).

I'm glad you don't have heat lamp on them, because I agree, at those ages, they don't need it.

My recommendation is to continue the Corid for several days more, changing water daily. If you don't see noticeable improvement within a couple more days, consider getting a sulfa drug.

My thoughts.
LofMc

http://extension.umd.edu/sites/exte... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

 

[jllracer55]

I'm sorry your little ones are sick. That is always so disheartening.

My best guess is...you are fighting coccidiosis.

Pretty classic symptoms. Diarrhea, blood tinged poop, huddled, lethargic. I think the heavy breathing is from that. Sneezing may be incidental and of no importance or indication of MG (see below) or some other respiratory infection. It could also indicate better ventilation is needed.

Likely, you got a little behind the coccidiosis due to the fact that it was likely lurking at the owner's. Transition stress (moving from one location to another) often will trigger worse symptoms.

It is also possible that they contracted it on your property. Every area can have its own strain. That's why we don't encourage wearing boots from your yard to mine as we can tromp the protozoa strains. Our birds build an immunity to the strain on their property, but they become sick with a new strain.

But it takes about 5 days for the process to begin, and about 3 weeks for levels to grow to dangerous levels....so I think they came with it.

Above poster is accurate....are you changing to Corid water daily? That is very important. Also double check the concentration to make sure you have that right. (Look at label).

Corid does take a bit to act, especially once you've got an outbreak, but some strains are more resistant to it. For that, sulfa meds are useful. I used to get Sulmet at the feed store, which you can't now (new FDA regulations against getting OTC antibiotics), but you can get the injectible type here: https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...9lcno968bnuiA3Rt9VimXvc_SXfa44nhoC0KEQAvD_BwE

I like the sulfa drugs as you can target the coccidia as well as gram negative bacteria which are opportunistic in the gut with inflammation (eColi, Pasturella, Salmonella).

I don't know if the Tylan is helping or not. It won't treat coccidiosis as it doesn't target the protozoa. It will treat MG (mycoplasma gallesepticum) which is the bacteria behind CRD (chronic respiratory disease).

MG can be passed from mother to chick through egg.

MG/CRD produces respiratory symptoms, usually fairly mild, but can be harder on chicks. It is treated with antibiotics like Tylan but generally never cured. It turns into stress induced chicken asthma whenever the bird is under stress or transition (even weather changes).

I'm glad you don't have heat lamp on them, because I agree, at those ages, they don't need it.

My recommendation is to continue the Corid for several days more, changing water daily. If you don't see noticeable improvement within a couple more days, consider getting a sulfa drug.

My thoughts.
LofMc

http://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/poultry/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

This diagram is helpful, I wish I had seen it before when I was fighting cocci the first time, it's definitely a learning experience, sure hope they survive.