I bought 6 chicks from a farm on July 16 and was told they were vaccinated for mareks and cocci. Everything was fine for the first few days. Then 1 by one, they started dying. The chicks were all around the same age (<3 weeks) but some were larger than others and the smaller ones have been dying off.
First chick died on 7/19, then another on 7/18. These chicks died without warning, they were just dead when we woke up in the morning. A third chick was lethargic on 7/18 and was dead on the morning of 7/19.
Having lost 50% of my chicks I bought 4 more chicks from another farm on July 22. All was fine for a few days. Then one of my new chicks died yesterday and one of the original chicks died today.
I have not seen any bloody stools or anything unusual.
Some of my chicks seem to be growing and getting bigger. Some of them are not. It's hard to say if they are losing weight when their sisters are getting bigger, but they are definitely not growing.
Breeds: Breeds are all different. So far, I've lost Barred Rocks, a Jersey Black, a Blue Cochin.
Food: They've had had free access to non-medicated Rising Chick feed and given clean water everyday.
Housing: Bedding is pine shavings. To maintain proper temperature, I've tried different locations (garage, basement) with and without a heat lamp. I started with an open cardboard box brooder and then switched the chicks to a little coop someone gave me after they got rid of their chickens. I don't know if it is a coincidence or not, but no chicks died before I switched to the little coop. In case it was contaminated in some way, I switched back to a cardboard brooder, but that may be too late...
I'm at my wit's end here. What do I do for my chicks?
Should I try some cocci medication even tho they were allegedly vaccinated? If so, will bovine corid work? All I can find from Tractor Supply near me is this bovine corid liquid and this bovine corid pellets.
First chick died on 7/19, then another on 7/18. These chicks died without warning, they were just dead when we woke up in the morning. A third chick was lethargic on 7/18 and was dead on the morning of 7/19.
Having lost 50% of my chicks I bought 4 more chicks from another farm on July 22. All was fine for a few days. Then one of my new chicks died yesterday and one of the original chicks died today.
I have not seen any bloody stools or anything unusual.
Some of my chicks seem to be growing and getting bigger. Some of them are not. It's hard to say if they are losing weight when their sisters are getting bigger, but they are definitely not growing.
Breeds: Breeds are all different. So far, I've lost Barred Rocks, a Jersey Black, a Blue Cochin.
Food: They've had had free access to non-medicated Rising Chick feed and given clean water everyday.
Housing: Bedding is pine shavings. To maintain proper temperature, I've tried different locations (garage, basement) with and without a heat lamp. I started with an open cardboard box brooder and then switched the chicks to a little coop someone gave me after they got rid of their chickens. I don't know if it is a coincidence or not, but no chicks died before I switched to the little coop. In case it was contaminated in some way, I switched back to a cardboard brooder, but that may be too late...
I'm at my wit's end here. What do I do for my chicks?
Should I try some cocci medication even tho they were allegedly vaccinated? If so, will bovine corid work? All I can find from Tractor Supply near me is this bovine corid liquid and this bovine corid pellets.
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