I think my chick has coccy, need advice!

[FabulousMandy]

Hi all! Sad that my first post is about my ill chick, but here we are

.

I have three little chicks that I ordered from MyPetChicken.com currently residing in an indoor brooder. They are about a week old today. Two of the chicks are thriving beautifully, but the other is noticeably smaller than the other two, doesn't run around the brooder, generally sits in one place with her eyes half-way closed, has been having major issues with pasting up, and this morning I noticed white runny poop that was tinged with a small amount of bright red blood. She's also started to breathe heavily.

From what I gather this is a sign of coccy? I have already isolated this chick from the other two and thoroughly cleaned the brooder (just a side note I keep that cage as clean as humanly possible as it is, so needless to say I'm baffled by this illness).

If someone could please tell me how to properly medicate my ailing chick I would greatly appreciate it (though... from the looks of this chick I think it might be too late...). Also, is it advisable to medicate my other two healthy babies just in case they picked it up?

Thanks in advance!
Amanda

 

[gumpsgirl]

First off I want to say

!!! Glad to have you join us! Second, I really don't see how your chick would have cocci if it hasn't been introduced to the outdoors or any other chicks that have. What are you feeding? Are you putting anything extra in the water?

 

[FabulousMandy]

Right now I'm feeding them start & grow and I'm giving them regular municipal tap water. The only extra they've ever had was a lil sugar water right when they arrived.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I was wondering about the sugar water. That can cause them to paste up but if you only gave it to them when they arrived, I don't see that being the issue. The food sounds right. I'm really not certain. Sorry I can't be of more help to you but maybe someone who has more expertise in this area can.

 

[silkiechicken]

If your birds have never touched soil, or the poo from adult birds, you can't have cocci. If they are under a week old or so, a chick dying after being shipped is not really that unusual. A yolk sac can sustain them for 3 days, and with access to feed, even a chick with a developmental mal absorption issue or internal problems can last a few more days before passing. It falls under the category of "failure to thrive" as it does happen no matter how hard you try to keep them perfectly.

That said, pasty butt needs to be cleaned off so things can flow, try feeding some egg yolk for that boost of nutrition and keeping it in it's own place away from the big feet of the other two chicks may help. You don't have to keep them too clean, and growing up in a "sterile" brooder can be bad because it inhibits exposure to pathogens they need to get immunities to. Slow exposure to the world is a good thing so that they can build up strength to be in balance with the environment as they grow up. A clump of grass from their future run won't hurt them one bit and is probably better than just putting them out to the world 6 weeks later without any exposure to the things that are going to be in the soil.

For this little chick, if feeding egg yolk or poultry vitamins don't help, do what you think is best for how the chick feels. Personally, medicating is the last thing on the list to do, in order to keep a healthy strong flock, unless you know there is a high risk in your location. Some places have high density of cocci in the soil so medicated feed with a coccosidistant is warranted, while other places have known out breaks of mericks so a vaccine is often a good idea. If neither are an issue where you are, then you don't have to worry about it. The county extension agent could tell you if they are issues.

If your start and grow is medicated with only amprolium, it is a thamine blocker so cocci can't reproduce. In your case, that blood may be something "broken" in the chick rather than an infestation because it is still so young and living in the brooder. Just keep an eye on the thriving ones and medicate for cocci if they become listless. To confirm cocci for sure, you can take a fecal sample to any vet and they can confirm it with a "fecal float".

Good luck!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Ahhhh! Words of wisdom from silkiechicken! I had some similar issues worrying about cocci and with my chicks having pasty butt, back when I got my first chicks. Silkiechicken eased my worries and her advice was sound.

Good luck and I hope that things turn around for your little chick.

 

[FabulousMandy]

thank you so much! This little chick has definitely been less-than-friendly and a little listless since it arrived; I was hoping it wasn't just failing to thrive but that seems to fit pretty well. I'm going to try the egg yolk and hope for the best.

oh, and just real quick: I typically clean out the old litter in the brooder every evening, is that too much?

 

[silkiechicken]

If your brooder is large enough, and you just have 3 chicks, you might only have to do it once a week. Just clean it out when you think it starts to look dirty or if the bedding get's wet from the waterer. If all you see are shavings, don't worry about it. But if it's starting to collect or there are any signs of moisture, go ahead and clean it up. It's up to you really. I brood outside so just clean out a 4x4 spot once every week or two when I have maybe 12-25 chicks in it for the first few weeks of life. There's no one or "right" way to do it, so do what works for you!


Good luck with your babies!

Quote:
Thanks! Good to hear all went well with your babies!