Help all chicks are dying! Maybe cocci can't get corid until Amazon delivers tomorrow! what else to

[Kathy Judson]

I went to the Pet/feed store where I bought them and they said because one died Tues and one this morning. They said it was from the heat (so Cal heat wave) but the temperature is perfect in the brooder. The pet shop lost 8. They are one week 4 days old today...now the other 4 are acting the same. What else can I do until tomorrow?

I brought 2 new ones home today (4days) and have them separated but if it comes from the store or hatchery??

I have called vets in our area. They say I need a prescription but they don't have any anyway. I have looked at other pet shops but none are a feed store - I called friends with chickens and no one has anything...

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC. It sounds like cocci. Give them buttermilk or regular milk to slow the cocci effects until you get the corid. Make sure the milk is lukewarm and not cold when you give it to them. Use an eyedropper and dribble it on the side of their beak to drink.

 

[Kathy Judson]

Thank you so much for your response. Another died over night, but I will begin the room temperature milk with the others and hope the corid gets here in time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Another thing. If the brooder is wet at all, dry it out. Change bedding or whatever it takes. It's also important to keep the water fresh. Don't just refill a water bowl, dump it out. Dirty water or wet conditions are a breeding ground for cocci.

It's possible it is something other than cocci. What are the symptoms? How are they acting? Bloody poop is not necessary for it to be cocci.

Normally cocci doesn't hit chicks that young due to the life cycle of the cocci bug. But if they were in unsanitary conditions at the pet/feed store, and especially if bedding has not been changed when they got new chicks, it is certainly possible.

I wish you luck. This hurts.

 

[Kathy Judson]

They get very lethargic, droopy wings, droopy head, down part looks fluffy but sort of standing out more(?) almost looks like powder on them - they stumble a bit and then as worse lay down - sometimes on side...will suddenly eat and act like a bit better then down again. Their droppings look kind of stringy (but no worms in it) some diarrhea...

 

[Kathy Judson]

Now there poop looks like thick brown mustard...

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you not have a Tractor Supply or any kind of feed store with cattle supplies in your area? Corid/amprollium/Ampromed is a cattle medicine and sulfadimethoxine is another medicine you can use if there is no Corid. They certainly sound like they have cocci symptoms. Here are a couple of links to read:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616

 

[Kathy Judson]

They have been taking the corid for 24 hours and another one looks like it will die. Is there usually some kind of white powdery looking something on the tips of their down? They are definitely dehydrated and lighter than before...

 

[Kathy Judson]

I live in So California and their are not feed stores locally that carry corid or vets. They kept saying I would need a prescription anyway...but didn't have any. The closest area that has cows is about 2 hours away and I just ordered it. Thank you for those links. I read, and have been studying all the info, but so far my little chickies are still not good. Who knew it would be this hard? (and sad)

 

[Kathy Judson]

Have been dosing them for 30 hours and water and another one died...4 of 8...should I be doing something else?