Help Please!!

[chicken newby]

I have 11 six week old chicks. I have no prior experience in owning chickens. Everthing was going good until this morning. I got up and checked the chicks to change water and add feed. I noticed one was laying down and not moving, thought she was gone. She is alive but very lethargic. She hangs her head when you pick her up. She is breathing fine. I noticed yest she was sneezing. I had taken them outside for some play time and could hear her. I am very worried and not sure what to do. How do I know what is wrong?? I have seperated her so the others will leave her alone. I also had noticed some lose stools but not sure from who, it was dark brown. I had given them some spinach and grapes, thought that was the cause. Please help.

 

[ChicKat]

Welcome to the forum.

Hopefully some BYC folks will be able to diagnose and suggest solutions for your problem. Could it be cocci? Are you feeding the chicks a medicated feed?

I hope that your little one recovers quickly and that all the rest will do just fine.

 

[KFaye]

I have read grapes are not good for the chickens.

http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html

 

[mtnviewfarms]

Sounds like could be Marek's disease or Coccodosis which are both fatal and very contagious to the other chicks. Do you feed medicated starter? I know this is a 'controversial' topic in the chicken world but we breed, incubate and sell chicks and started pullets ( Barred Rocks and soon Welsummers ) and we have never lost a chick to disease. We feed double medicated starter to the chicks which ONLY is a Coccodosis preventative. Marek's prevention requires vaccination of the day old chicks ( we do not do this with our chicks ).

 

[chicken newby]

I do use medicated feed. I change food and water twice a day. I had heard that vinegar in the water helps with pecking so I added it to their water as well. I am not sure about cocci symptoms? I am worried it could be though for all of my chicks. I will not give them grapes anymore if they are not good for them. I will check it out, I know they loved them. Where can I gett some Amprolium for chicks or can you even give them it??

 

[ChicKat]

The medication you would want for cocci is, I believe 'corid', or Sulmet and you can get it at a feed store or TSC, I think. Call first to see if they have it.

Here are some links

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/616208/treatment-for-coccy-i-think
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/245363/cocci-treatment
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/200179/cocci-treatment
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/513526/treatment-for-cocci-dying-chicks-please-help
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/77890/cocci-treatments


A very serious word of caution.... be sure the symptoms match what you are treating for.

Go to the Merck Vet manual and match the symptoms to the disease:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

You could also check the Chicken Doctor - there is a link to how to reach him on 'my page' it is in the charts and quotes part. So in the signature at the bottom, go to my page...from my page (again toward the bottom) see in charts and quotes how to get in touch with the chicken dr.

Hope that you will cure your chicks.

 

[chicken newby]

Ok well our chick did not make it. It has been a hard day. I went to the feed store and tried to get her some meds. It was to late when I got home. I feel helpless my other chicks are sneezing and have brown stools now. Should I worm them?? I am very worried tom. more will be lost. I have them all on Duramycin-10. Is this good?? The girl that worked there said it should help. I am putting it in the water for all of them. I am worried it may be the flu. I have them in my house still because the coop is not finished. Are they contagious to my family?? I feel really bad for them because I dont have the solutions to help them. I had seperated the sick one but now I dont know who is sick or not. I feel sick to my stomach with worry. Please help with any advice.