Help! Durvet Probiotics Daily

[OkieB]

Have some 1 week and 2 week old bantams. One passed last night. 2 seem sluggish but are eating and drinking. I have some Durvet Probiotics Daily on hand. My question is... Is this product suitable for baby chicks? It doesnt say on the bottle yay or nay.

Any ideas?

 

[sylviethecochin]

I know nothing about Durvet probiotics (or probiotics in general).

What I do know is that you need to identify the problem before you can treat it. Can you list symptoms, how they're being kept, what temps they're being kept at, where did you get them, what you're feeding, how often you clean the bedding--basically anything you can think of. Pictures are helpful.

Good luck.

 

[OkieB]

Thanks for your concern.

Sluggish
Still eating and drinking
Normal droppings
Eyes closed more than others
Using a plastic tub with a 60 watt light bulb. Hanging pretty low. All of them are mainly directly under the light but they seem quite comfortable.
The tub is inside my house. Heater is set on 74°.

 

[OkieB]

I have drawn arrows to the ones in concerned for.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry you are having trouble.

Sometimes chicks fail even at 2 weeks. I really don't see a problem with probiotics. They may or may not help. But I would go get some poultry nutri drench or vitamins as that will help ANY it can. Nothing should be supplemented more than 10 days.

Pasty butt shouldn't be your issue in the environment you describe. But it will first make chicks slow and then pass if not caught in time.

Coccidiosis is often indicated by slowing and eyes closed. And can have normal looking stools in my experience. In addition, sometimes the shaving look dryer on top than they really are. If you can post a pic of the lethargic birds as they are, that might be helpful because somethings get a certain look to them.

Were these babies shipped or hatched from your own stock or someone else's? How many chicks have you got in your bin and how big is it? What are you currently feeding including treats and supplements? Which actual bantam breed? Just helpful clues, sorry for so many questions.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Normal droppings rule out Coccidiosis.
EDT: or I guess not. I defer to you, Eggsighted. Coccidiosis article.

Your picture makes me think they're cold. They should be spreading out more than that. Do you have a higher wattage light bulb? Can you measure temperature in there? It should be about 90-95 for the first week, decreasing by about five degrees for every week after. (so 85-90, at this point)

Another problem that's easily solved is nutritional deficiency. Do you have any poultry vitamins or do you have access to a close Walmart or feed store? Low-iron baby vitamins will do in a pinch; but if you can get chick vitamins (with or without electrolytes) it's better. If you have vitamin B complex tablets in the house, please just crush and add them to their water now. B is important

Electrolytes are available at feed stores, but you can make up a quick batch of your own with 2 tbsp corn syrup/sugar/or molasses, 1 pinch salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 pt. water. It's a quick energy boost and it will help hydrate them.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Normal droppings rule out Coccidiosis.
EDT: or I guess not. I defer to you, Eggsighted. Coccidiosis article.

Your picture makes me think they're cold. They should be spreading out more than that. Do you have a higher wattage light bulb? Can you measure temperature in there? It should be about 90-95 for the first week, decreasing by about five degrees for every week after. (so 85-90, at this point)

Another problem that's easily solved is nutritional deficiency. Do you have any poultry vitamins or do you have access to a close Walmart or feed store? Low-iron baby vitamins will do in a pinch; but if you can get chick vitamins (with or without electrolytes) it's better. If you have vitamin B complex tablets in the house, please just crush and add them to their water now. B is important

Electrolytes are available at feed stores, but you can make up a quick batch of your own with 2 tbsp corn syrup/sugar/or molasses, 1 pinch salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 pt. water. It's a quick energy boost and it will help hydrate them.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Pretty good info... I just wonder though... that seems like a lot of baking soda for the recipes I have seen (usually 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per quart of both soda and salt). And I would be careful about using molasses as it can have a strong laxative effect. Brown sugar is a nice alternative because it has the micro/macro nutrients of the molasses but should be less likely to cause diarrhea.

Even though they are huddled they don't look mad, so the temp may be fine. I would increase it if they were mad peeping a bunch but otherwise probably not. Yes sometimes my chicks spread to a perfect circle leaving the hot spot under the light open. But then I know it's a tad to warm.

That was a cute pic! They look normal there. But experience tells me... if you think you should be concerned, you are most likely right.

 

[casportpony]

I would like to see some poop pictures.

 

[OkieB]

Thanks for all the input. I have lowered the lamp and now both of them have laid down and seem more relaxed. Maybe they were COLD?

Also, I read somewhere that feeding them a hard boiled egg can be beneficial? I am feeding them medicated chick starter.

And I am also cleaning their tub out every 3 days.

 

[casportpony]

Thanks for all the input. I have lowered the lamp and now both of them have laid down and seem more relaxed. Maybe they were COLD?

Also, I read somewhere that feeding them a hard boiled egg can be beneficial? I am feeding them medicated chick starter.

And I am also cleaning their tub out every 3 days.

They did look cold. The chick starter is what they need, so I would stick with that. You could try making a small bowl of starter mash and see if they like that.