How to treat sick 3 week old chick?

[silarajc]

I have a 3 week old chick that I posted about but didn't receive any responses. She is not moving around with the others and is just standing under the heat lamp with her head tucked in and it looks like she's fluffed her feathers. All I know to do is to try to feed her feed mixed with water...is there anything else I can do?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that you didn't get a response earlier. I would stop and get some Corid at your local feed store, and treat all chicks at once for coccidiosis. It won't hurt the others. Dosage is 1 1/2 tsp of the powder, or 2 tsp of the liquid Corid per gallon of water (the only water source) for 5-7 days. Probiotics or plain yogurt in a small amount daily during and after during is helpful. Coccidiosis symptoms in clude runny droppings, sometimes with blood, hunched or puffed up appearance, sleepiness, and ruffled feathers. Here is an article to read:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html

 

[silarajc]

Thanks for your response. My chicks were supposed to be vaccinated for coccydosis, and I read that giving them medication would invalidate the vaccination??? I have been seeing a lot of what looked like the pictures of "normal" droppings, but definitely on the moist side.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would still go ahead and treat just this chick if possible. Separate her with a small partition or screen to keep the others out of her water. This is the most common illness at the age. The vaccinations are not 100% effective in every case, and we seem to see a lot of cases of coccidiosis or Mareks in chicks who have been vaccinated supposedly here on this forum. There is always a chance of missing a chick, or it not getting a proper dose. I would also look for other causes such as a crop impaction or a respiratory infection symptoms, but I would treat for cocci if nothing else makes sense. When they stand puffed up and are not eating, they are pretty sick. We can never know for sure if it is cocci, but you can get some droppings check ed by your vet locally.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Thanks for your response. My chicks were supposed to be vaccinated for coccydosis, and I read that giving them medication would invalidate the vaccination??? I have been seeing a lot of what looked like the pictures of "normal" droppings, but definitely on the moist side.

Cant vaccinate for Cocci

i would start treatment for that but also how is the brooder setup? how warm is the warmest spot? at 3weeks old they probably dont need heat during the day, just night

 

[silarajc]

I don't know for sure how warm the light gets...I adjust it based on the chick behavior. They have plenty of room to move away from it - the brooder is about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. Food is at one end of the brooder and water is at the other - the light is on one side to the middle.

 

[silarajc]

I also have to say that I have not observed any abnormal poop - everything either is normal solid brown or what looks like cecal poop.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

I don't know for sure how warm the light gets...I adjust it based on the chick behavior. They have plenty of room to move away from it - the brooder is about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. Food is at one end of the brooder and water is at the other - the light is on one side to the middle.

how warm is it where you are?
that sounds small for 24 chicks

 

[Eggcessive]

Cant vaccinate for Cocci

i would start treatment for that but also how is the brooder setup? how warm is the warmest spot? at 3weeks old they probably dont need heat during the day, just night

Yes, some hatcheries indeed vaccinate for the 5 most severe strains of coccidiosis: https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/faqwhatiscoccidi.html
https://www.hipra.com/wps/portal/we...uctos/00/127555/119923_00/121389_00/400208_00

Some don't recommend it or offer it:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya...-offer-a-vaccine-against-Coccidiosis-H18.aspx

 

[silarajc]

yes, they are quickly outgrowing it. I made it based on some recommendations, but those were probably for just up to a week old. The coop was supposed to have been built by now, but we'v had some personal setbacks that have delayed it. They do get to go out every day, but not enough. Temperatures here are ranging from lower 40's to upper 70's, but in the garage it is a little more stable, probably mid 60's.

Anyhow, I got home and dipped the little one's beak repeatedly into some slurry and got her to drink a little. She perked up somewhat, enough to cause a ruckus when she heard the others brought back into the area. There is another little yellow one just like her, who sits with her head tucked in, but also is running around with everyone else. Here's the sickly one (she's the little yellow one in the back in both pictures)
:

And here's her poop from this afternoon...


Her vent does not seem red to me, and I'm not seeing anything that looks bloody or even diarrhea. Still not sure it is coccisodosis, but I can go get the medicine this evening.