Help, please: First time w/ chicks, blood in poop

[tmh59]

Hi! I am new to chickens, and got six chicks on Thursday, they were born Tuesday. I've been worried about one of the Barred Rock chicks since soon after moving them into their brooder. On her first day here, she seemed really lethargic, ruffled feathers and kind of out of it. At first, she kept falling asleep under the drinking bottle, and then she eventually went under the heat plate and mostly stayed there, while the other five chicks were very curious and moving in and out of the heat plate, scratching, eating etc.

Then, this morning, she was moving around with the other chicks -- eating and drinking and I was feeling really optimistic for her! But then, I saw her poop. The first time, it was bloody (photo) and the second time it was kind of a clear liquid with a yellow sticky/mucus center.

The chicks are not vaccinated for coccidiosis, but they have been on medicated chick starter grower feed (MannaPro brand) since yesterday. They have been drinking plain water. For now, I'm keeping them in a play pen w/ puppy pads covered in paper towels on the ground -- at least for the first couple days. I've changed it three times in the past 24 hours.

But, I'm really worried about the Barred Rock chick becoming sicker and sicker, and potentially infecting the rest.

Any advice for what to do? Thanks in advance, I've been frantically googling and feeling super worried.

(A few specific questions:

-- Do you think it's coccidiosis? And if so, I have liquid Corrid. Should I continue to keep them in the same pen, and use that?
-- Can I put probiotics in the water at the same time?
-- Should I stop feeding the medicated food, and start them on non-medicated food? If so, can you switch completely or does it have to be gradual/mixing the foods a bit.)

Thanks again for taking the time to read this.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Iffy on whether that's coccidiosis or not, but it doesn't hurt to treat them for it. You can keep them on the medicated food, it's just an extra amount of amprolium (if that's what's in the feed).

I really don't use probiotics but I don't think it positively or negatively affects treatment.

 

[Tonyroo]

Monitor the chick's behavior, treating something your not sure of might endanger the chick. Make sure your brooder is at the right temperature, it's OK to have it slightly warmer especially if there under a week old. Hope the chick gets better soon.

 

[tmh59]

Thanks very much.

I moved her into a separate area — mostly so I could watch how she was eating and drinking closer, plus pooping. And, I’m wondering if you think that’s necessary?

She really perks up when she hears my voice and she just seems — even more lethargic alone.

The five other chicks are in a large portable puppy play pen with a RentACoop heater plate.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a second heater plate, so she is in a cardboard box with a read heat lamp.

Both she and the group now have non-medicated food and water with corrid and probiotics at someone else’s suggestion but — man — I’m just now no longer sure that was the right move?

Thoughts?

Our sick girl is still very tiny and listless compared to the others. I gave her some egg yolk by syringe this evening.

Thanks again! Hoping we can keep her around

 

[tmh59]

Thanks very much.

I moved her into a separate area — mostly so I could watch how she was eating and drinking closer, plus pooping. And, I’m wondering if you think that’s necessary?

She really perks up when she hears my voice and she just seems — even more lethargic alone.

The five other chicks are in a large portable puppy play pen with a RentACoop heater plate.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a second heater plate, so she is in a cardboard box with a read heat lamp.

Both she and the group now have non-medicated food and water with corrid and probiotics at someone else’s suggestion but — man — I’m just now no longer sure that was the right move?

Thoughts?

Our sick girl is still very tiny and listless compared to the others. I gave her some egg yolk by syringe this evening.

Thanks again! Hoping we can keep her around

Her most recent poops aren’t as red — but she now has a bald spot. And to note: Since we brought her home, her backside/butt sort of pulse.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Corid is very safe. It's best to treat for coccidiosis if you suspect it. The only thing Corid does is block Thiamine, which is what coccidia needs to thrive. Even if the chick isn't suffering from coccidiosis, Corid is safe.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I moved her into a separate area — mostly so I could watch how she was eating and drinking closer, plus pooping. And, I’m wondering if you think that’s necessary?

I would keep her with the others, due to the social aspect, as long as she is able to eat and drink without issue (like not being pushed away by the stronger chicks).

The entire group should have access to the Corid water regardless, because if that's what it is, you want them to be getting it in their systems before any symptoms show up.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Get a sleeve of sav a chick to have on hand

 

[Tonyroo]

Have you considered giving your baby mash feed, it's easier to digest. That's what my chicks are on right now. They are all healthy with zero issues.

You don't need her in a separate brooder, consider putting her back with group. She will thrive better with her buddies around.