I can't get medicine for cocci, how can I help my sick chick? UPDATE

[zowieyellowflame]

Well, the signs I think are cocci are shaking, fluffed up, weak on feet, drooping wings, slightly lowered head, closing eyes. Staying in one spot. Eating tiny amounts, drinking tiny amounts.

As far as the cold, there is a bulb hanging over the chicks. I don't know how warm that makes it for them exactly, but not as cold as 8 degrees where they are. But yes, still pretty cold and fuzz bucket was the smallest.

After I seen the symptoms, I brought him into the house and he seemed to get progressively worse. I was so close to having the meds on time for him but he died just 2 hours ago.

Does this sound like cocci or did I kill my favorite chick with the cold?

 

[easttxchick]

Sorry your little one didn't make it.

I hope since you got the meds you have begun the treatment for your other chickens(just to make sure you don't lose any more-in the event it was cocci).

 

[chickenzoo]

If the rest seem fine, it could be coccidia. So sorry you lost the little guy. Just make sure the rest stay warm as possible and treat them with the meds. Welcome to the not so pleasant part of loving chickens..........

 

[zowieyellowflame]

I forgot about the most important symptoms. She had runny stool that was green and white, but no blood. Except maybe once and really it could have just been dark brown.
The other symptom was stuffy conjested breathing. It seemed like her nostrils were plugged up a bit.
This is the second chick that has had these problems. The other was 2 weeks ago, exactly, and exactly the same symptoms.
2 days ago I started giving this sick chick and the other chicks water soluable vitamin with an antibiotic penicillin G potassium and streptomycin sulfate. It is supposed to treat chronic respiratory disease and infectious sinusitis.
Now that I have painted the whole picture, could it be cocci or crd or sinusitis? Should I keep giving this antibiotic to the symptom free chicks knowing it will do nothing to cocci?
Also, nobody around here (nova scotia) seems concerned with cocci. The medicine is nearly unavailable in my area, nobody really seems to know what it is either. Is cocci present everywhere or just mostly in warm climates?

 

[chickenzoo]

The stuffy congested breathing is a respiratory illness. It is tricky to know for sure, as if she had coccidia she would have a low immune system and would be open to catching other diseases easier. It also could be just the respiratory illness. Treat for the respiratory illness and see how they all do afterward. Coccidia is everywhere, in the ground, in wild bird feces etc.. I'm sure the cold freezing temps you get make it less a concern, but it can happen....

 

[zowieyellowflame]

Is respiratory illness something that could affect my adult birds? They are in a separate space but I touch the little ones feeder, waterer and then go into the big one and vice versa. I don't know how contagious these things can be. do I need tylan? where do I get that?

 

[dlhunicorn]

since your feed stores do not have meds (and during the course of your chickens lives you will need them) I suggest you search around for the nearest vet (if you have a choice then choose one familiar with birds) > they willl have access to all the meds and may know of an online or mail order source for you in novascotia.
Young birds take a few months to fully develop a competant immune system... during this time you do not want them dealing with cold stress.... dealing with this stress factor will often lower their immune competance and leave them open to illness.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Many species of animals get coccidiosis, so ask at the feed stores if they carry any medications for coccidiosis (dont abbreviate to cocci--they may not understand).or if they can get them.

You need to find an online store that can ship med and stuff to Nova Scotia for future reference. Also, as a means of buying a little time, ACV in the water will help. However it is not a real treatment for coccidiosis. It is a preventative.

Sulmet treats both coccidiosis and respiratory illnesses.

 

[zowieyellowflame]

Thanks everyone. The medicine I got said sulfex or sulfix on the bottle. Is this the right stuff? The guys I got it from breeds chickens, he was not home when i picked it up from the house keeper, so I dont even know about dosage or anything.

 

[Mrs MIA]

It sounds like a Sulfa drug. Go easy on it... 1/2 - 1 tablespoon in 1 gallon of water might be enough to help the chicks kick it. Hopefully someone with the meds knowledge will chime in.

I live in Alaska, and I have to fight cocci every summer. As soon as the rains hit, and it gets wet and humid, we have a run on it with the younger birds. I keep Amprolium liquid on hand for them. The older birds appear to have built up an immunity to it. LynneP is in your area... you might PM her and ask if she has a source for meds.