I need urgent advice about sick chickens

[sdmorris]

I just started with my first backyard coop with 3 RIR 3-month old chickens that I bought 1 month ago.
2-3 days after I bought them, 1 chicken became very lethargic, hardly moving or eating, and after another 2 days I found her dead when I went to open the coop in the morning.
The other two were fine until 2 days ago, when I found one of them with her head under her wing. She perked up when I brought a banana treat, but several times over the last two days I have seen her with her eyes closed and she does not go to the feeding tray very often. The other chick is running about as active as ever.

I have been feeding them the grain that was recommended by the chicken supplier, supplemented with salad (mainly lettuce & tomato) and the occasional helpings of cooked vegetables (carrots & cabbage) and banana.

Any idea what can be wrong and what I can do to help?

Steve

 

[ten chicks]

I just started with my first backyard coop with 3 RIR 3-month old chickens that I bought 1 month ago.
2-3 days after I bought them, 1 chicken became very lethargic, hardly moving or eating, and after another 2 days I found her dead when I went to open the coop in the morning.
The other two were fine until 2 days ago, when I found one of them with her head under her wing. She perked up when I brought a banana treat, but several times over the last two days I have seen her with her eyes closed and she does not go to the feeding tray very often. The other chick is running about as active as ever.

I have been feeding them the grain that was recommended by the chicken supplier, supplemented with salad (mainly lettuce & tomato) and the occasional helpings of cooked vegetables (carrots & cabbage) and banana.

Any idea what can be wrong and what I can do to help?

Steve

Make sure you are giving them a high quality feed. Do they have access to grit? Look up symptoms for Coccidiosis. Check their crops to rule impacted crop issues. What does their poop look like?

 

[Eggcessive]

Three month olds should be on 18-20% protein starter/grower crumbles until age 5 months when they can go on 16% layer. Cut out the extras. I also agree theat you may have coccidiosis in your flock. I would treat them with amprollium or Corid 2 tsp liquid or 1 tsp powder for 5-7 days. It is in the cattle meds department of your feed store. Make it the only water source. Follow up with vitamins and probiotics (or plain yogurt) after completing treatment.

 

[cafarmgirl]

X3. Treat for coccidiosis asap and put them on a good all flock or grower feed.

 

[sdmorris]

If I understand correctly, the main symptom of Coccidiosis is blood in their poop, so that is not the problem.

A neighbor with chickens took a look and reckons that it is a virus and gave me antibiotics and vitamins. Hopefully that will help, along with yoghurt, which they still appear to enjoy.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

Your neighbor may be wrong. Blood in the droppings only occurs in 1/3 of the cases of coccidiosis. Three month old chickens are not usually immune to coccidiosis yet. The symptoms are lethargy, puffing up, ruffled feathers, poor appetite, and diarrhea--sometimes, but not always bloody. Here is a link to read: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would treat for coccidiosis. I have had to treat 3 month olds for it before. You should see improvement within 24 hours of the Corid treatment starting.

 

[sdmorris]

I have not found a source for amprollium/Corid. Where I live you can only get medicines like these from a veterinarian, which is expensive.
The antibiotics and vitamins have helped a lot and the chickens are both much more lively.

However, one of the chickens has now developed a lump on her beak - the white lumps are cottage cheese, which she loves.
Any ideas what the cause is?

This is all a learning experience for me and the first major lesson was - only buy birds from a reputable dealer or someone you trust.

 

[ten chicks]

I purchase Amprol from a vet. Vet sells me 500 ml(this is the amount i ask for) and it costs around $10.00 in Canada. You do not have to purchase the entire jug,tell vet you only need small amount.

 

[sdmorris]

I tried that for the antibiotics with the vet I use for my cats. He would only give them to me after examining the "patients", which is fair enough but that cost me around $30.