HELP!!! I've lost 2 already!!

[kyliesmommax5]

Hey there. I need some help!! I lost 2 of my 7 wk old BO this am. No I have a mix and a blue andy acting weird! I wasnt around when the other 2 died and now these two are just laying there! The only thing physically wrong that I can see is their crop feels like their neck! The mix was just sitting in the coop not moving so I brought her in and tryed to give her water and she wasnt having any of that. Now shes just laying there looks died. She had a lil runny yellowy poop.
The Blue Andy I brought in after her had been just fine when I was out there and noticed the mix. when I went out to lock them up she was laying out in the yard like she was died. Brought her in felt her crop and it felt the same as the mix. I did a notice that her butt was kinda poopy so I trimmed her up but it wasnt completely clogged. But after I messed with her she pooped some and now shes peeping and eating and drinking some.
What is going on?!?! How do I fix my chicks?!?!?
Thanks!

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
How do you mean that their crop feels like their neck? Do you mean they don't feel abnormally full or squishy?

we'll need some information. First, are these babies from hatchery stock or a private breeder? In other words are they from pullorum/typhoid (NPIP) tested stock?

Are t hey on medicated feed, medicated with amprolium?? Do you have Corid or can you get some first thing in the morning? Have you recently switched feeds? Are you using the same bag you started with? Are their brooders completely dry and clean or have they ever stepped in their water, spilled it, etc? Are they on wire, dirt, shavings? Are they in their own area, not with adults?

First please give them all some plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon per three chicks. (If you have it tonight flavored will work - take the 'bits' out though.) It's obvious that at least part of the problem is a bacterial imbalance in their digestive system because of the pasty vent. Keep cleaning that and keeping it dry. If it reddens to where the others might pick at it, separate that baby. The living bacteria in plain yogurt will help replenish their own living gut bacteria which help them against digestive tract illnesses. Stress, antibiotics, food changes, challenges with coccidiosis etc will all cause decreases in the GOOD bacteria possibly allowing the bad bacteria to thrive. You're seeing evidence of that battle, and your chicks need to win.

Second, I would highly consider treating them all with Corid. (Not sulmet)> Corid treats all 9 types of cocci without being antibiotic or too harsh on the system. Even if babies are eating medicated starter, I will still treat with Corid if I see problems such as those you've described. Use as labeled. Corid is just stronger amprolium - but that's good. That's its benefit.

Third, clean out the bedding, wash all the waterers and feeders with hot water and soap, rinse dry and refill. If the babies poop in their waterer, put them up on something that makes them back-level to the babies. That goes for if they ever walk in them, too. Make sure your feed is less than a month old, still fresh smelling, stored in an air-tight and light-free container in a cool place. Replace feed daily - dont let it sit overnight. If you're using hay or shredded paper, replace the bedding with aspen shavings or with the type of pine compressed shavings sold as horse bedding. (It's WAY less expensive and way better than pet-grade pet store pine shavings.)

Also make sure your babies aren't overheating in the summer heat.

For the weak babies make sure they all get some dampened crumbles with a little of the yogurt mixed in. don't feed them any extra protein (like eggs). Do make sure they all get food and water, even if you have to dribble a bit at the side of their beak with a little karo, honey, or sugar mixed in.

Your baby with yellow-droppings will likely not make it as the yellow indicates liver involvement and her body supports that she might already be experiencing organ shut down.

 

[kyliesmommax5]

Ok,
How do you mean that their crop feels like their neck? It is hard and bony feeling.
Do you mean they don't feel abnormally full or squishy? No just hard
First, are these babies from hatchery stock or a private breeder? some are from welp and some from sand hill preservation

Are t hey on medicated feed, medicated with amprolium?? They are all on meat bird starter
Do you have Corid or can you get some first thing in the morning?I am not sure I will have to call Big R in the morning
Have you recently switched feeds?No they have been on this food for all 7 weeks
Are you using the same bag you started with?No I have went through several bags
Are their brooders completely dry and clean or have they ever stepped in their water, spilled it, etc? Possibly
They have a very large coop that they share with 11 older birds. It is dry and clean with straw, in fact I just cleaned it and put new straw down on Thursday. They sleep in the coop and have a large run during the day.

 

[kyliesmommax5]

Update:
The mix pullet is alive but doing what I think is like a death seizure, like they do when they die when you butcher. and the Blue Andy is resting nicely in her box. I am getting ready to go out and check on the others.......

 

[NotTheMomma]

Yellow poop.... worms perhaps?

 

[NotTheMomma]

Any particular reason they are meat bird feed? Perhaps there's too much protein or something in the mix? Are you planning on killing them as meat birds, or raising a flock for layers? Do you have access to a grower feed? At 7 weeks I'm pretty sure mine were still on starter.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Oh, and at night their crop is suppose to feel full. In the morning if it's full then you have a problem. Sounds like they are eating well.

How hot is it there?

Being that young, I'm more inclined to think cocci than worms. The yellow poop could be from the lack of nutrients being absorbed. Think bile in a human. I'd treat the whole flock for cocci with some Corid, ASAP, and see if they don't improve.

I'm taking it that they are on ground now, correct? 7 weeks would be a prime time for cocci.

I'm sorry for your losses, and hope we can figure out what's going on before you lose anymore.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Possible with the older birds. Coccidiosis with liver damage at this point is highest in my mind - particularly as they're with older birds. Older birds can have immunity while younger won't, depending on the age of the older birds.

Kyliesmommax5: How old are the older birds? I'm sorry about the younger. I do suspect organ failure due to disease. Hopefully the younger one is still not that far yet.

I'm also wondering about the feed. Might be a good time to switch over to a grower, particularly because you have older birds. I would treat for Corid over the week that you switch over, asap actually as coccidiosis can't be ruled out and the symptoms are highly suggestive of it - even without the blood. (Blood only appears in the last stages).

In the bird that's dying, if you're strong enough to do it, doing a necropsy on her and examining her cecum for blood could be helpful. If you're used to slaughter birds, perhaps you could see if any of her organs (or intestines) were abnormally colored, unhealthy, or inflammed.

I would also highly recommend separating the older from the younger, depending on how far apart they are. If they're more than 2 weeks, for sure I'd do it. The stress from food competition can cause immune decrease which can make them more susceptible to other illnesses. And older birds are immune to more things than younger. Challenging the immune systems of the younger birds can sometimes bite one in the proverbial tush. I'd hate to see you have more trouble with them.

I still recommend a change of bedding type - hay tends to retain spores and be more of an encouragement for cocci blooms than does kiln-dried type compressed pine. Particularly if there were any spilled waterers ever, common with babies.

 

[kyliesmommax5]

The older birds are 16 wks. They have been together (in the same coop) since I got them. They have been in with them for about 3 wks because they kept flying out of their brooder. why would it just now be a problem?

Also wondered if it would be best to feed them all chick starter or layer food?

 

[threehorses]

Well no one is old enough for layer. The babies are barely getting out of starter age, the olders should have been eating grower for weeks now.

Disease incubation is why this could be happening now. Can you possibly divide that same area into two?