Help chicks dying!

[synoviaus]

I have 30 assorted rare breeds from Ideal. They are almost 6 wks. old. Chicks were doing great until a few days ago, now losing 2 to 3 a day. Chicks appear to have a respirtory infection, congestion, runny eyes, lethargy, and fluffed feathers like they are cold. I only have 12 chicks left that appear unaffected. I have been feeding them teremeyacin and electrolites for several days. I've spoken with the hatchery and our vet too. I've done all they reccommend. The lady at Ideal said that they may have an airborne illness the chicks have gotten from our local chicken farmers' flocks (there are 8 chicken houses less than a mile from my house). Is there anything else I can try. I love my chicks and its killing me to lose them. I don't want to lose any of the others. Can anyone help me with advice? Amy

 

[threehorses]

Well, first - you can't give terramycin and electrolytes at the same time. You have to give medicine alone in the water.

We also need the temps of the brooder or if the babies are fully feathered.
Are they all on chick starter up until this point?

How much terramycin are you giving in the water? What does it say on the package about the number of grams and dosage. In other words, is it Duramyin's terramycin, or say "10 grams per package" and the package is 6.4 ounces and the recommended dosage something like 400-800 mg per gallon?

As for treating, first let us know one thing - their discharge from their beaks - is it really smelly?

If it is, and it were my flock, I'd get a bottle of Sulmet and use that in their water as labeled for 7 days.
If it isn't, I'd get LS50 and use that in their water

2.65 ounces treats 25 gallons
2.65/25 = 0.13 ounce / gallon
0.13 ounces = 0.78 teaspoons / gallon
0.13 ounces = 3.69 grams (if you have a postal scale)

So essentially 3/4 teaspoon per gallon of water as the sole source of water for 7-10 days. (Verified by Foy's catalog.)

WIth ANY antibiotic you must replace the good living bacteria of their gut which are unfortunately killed by the antibiotics along with the bad bacteria.

If you're using any -mycin or -cycline product (LS-50, terramycin) you can't use yogurt. Use acidophilis capsules from the walmart vitamin section, or grocery store, or pharmacy vitamin section. Or use Probios powder from the feed store. In either of those cases, mix the powder (1 emptied capsule, one crushed tablet, 1/4 t of probios) with just enough of something for each chick to eat quickly. If you have 30 babies, 30 capsules or 8 teaspoons of probios mixed in a cup of wetted crumbles would work. Take their food up one hour before - feed the wetted crumbles (mix water and powder, mix with crumbles, let set 10 minutes) because they'll be hungry. Make sure they all eat some. If you see some eat more, put them to the side in a box or something so the weaker ones can get their share.

If you're not using a -mycin or -cycline, or to help them be more thrifty and vigorous after they heal, you can use yogurt (plain unflavored ) mixed in the same type of damp mash. 1 teaspoon treats about 6 baby chicks. You can't use this now - but if you use weekly for the rest of their growing period, they'll grow so much better. This or less probios are great options. You won't need as much probios for healthy birds - just a bit.

Clean up all the noses you can. Use a new q-tip end for each spot, a completely new q-tip when you switch birds.

Another thing that would really help would be VetRx. If you dilute it with water, use that to clean up nares It helps them breath. Birds only heal if they can breathe. If they don't breathe, they dont' eat, and they won't live.

It's labeled for water use too but if you're using water meds you can't do that. But using on the babies (as you check each and clean each birds' nares) will help them heal better with a good antibiotic.

I'm so sorry you're having this experience.

Remember if you have other birds, do these babies last to prevent spread. Wearing a big men's shirt over your clothes and keeping it when them helps prevent spread, too.

Also wash out the waterers and (if you can) the feeders daily with good hot water. You want to prevent them from reinfecting themselves with the droplets that they spread everywhere.

Also make sure they have lots of good ventilation and fresh air.

I'm here if you need anything - I wish I could come help you doctor the babies. You have my help, prayers, and well wishes instead.


P.S.: If you want, you can mix electrolyte water and use THAT water to make the damp mash for them - that will help them with some electrolytes at least.

 

[synoviaus]

Thank you so much for the great advice. I have printed off your directions for future use. I have 18 chicks left. Ten of those appear unaffected. I have separated the 8 sick chicks into a seperate coop with a heat lamp. Yesterday, I called some of the local poultry farmers and asked them for help. I was given a product called Tylan. Its a type of antibiotic. We mixed it as directed, and I took each chick and dipped their beak in the mix until they drank a few swallows. The results were immediate. Chicks perked up. Started flying up on us and drinking from the bowl in our hands. We filled up some small bowls and put them in the coop. Chicks gathered around and drank until empty. One chick was really down and she died while we were treating everyone. So, far we have filled the small bowls three times. I had my first ray of hope this morning. I checked and no more dead. Hopefully, I can save the ones I have left. I really appreciate all the great advice and help. Amy

 

[synoviaus]

Here are pictures taken before this illness.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Tylan is really great stuff, seriously. Continue to give it as their sole source of water for the remainder of the period recommended - not a day short.

Cute babies!

 

[synoviaus]

Chicks seem to be getting better. I did lose one more, but all the others are improving every day. Hopefully, they will continue to get better. Amy

 

[threehorses]

That's great news! Which of the treatments are you using, or what are you doing to cause the success?