Keep having chick health problems

[IvyBeans]

I am brooding chicks for the third time and I lost 2 a few days ago. Now I’ve had them about 8 days and my Easter Egger won’t walk. Another chick had pasty butt.

I’m not sure if I should keep giving medicated feed in case it’s coccidosis, or switch to unmedicated feed in case it’s nutrient deficiency.

I’m starting chicks earlier than I ever have in the year, picked them up from a farm store called Wilco instead of having them shipped.

They also have runny poops, they’re on pine shavings, but I was cleaning out the brooder and put them in a box with paper towels.

I put a tsp of ACV in a quart of water.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Can you post pictures of your brooder setup? And are you using a heat lamp or a heat plate? Sometimes chicks can get overheated in smaller spaces, which causes them to drink more and ultimately have runny poops.

The runny poops themselves are likely contributing to any pasty butt.

Have you seen any blood in their stool? Or lethargy? Coccidiosis is unlikely at this age, unless you have water + poop. For example, open source waterers need to be freshened daily to prevent coccidia buildup (since you know those chicks are pooping in it!).

If coccidiosis is a concern, you'll need to purchase Corid (also known as amprolium). This contains a concentrated amount of what's in their medicated feed. It's diluted in water at a ratio of 2 teaspoons to 1 gallon (for liquid Corid), then offered as the sole source of drinking water for at least 5 days. Medicated feed alone cannot prevent coccidiosis once it's gone too far.

I'd also take the ACV out of their water. Simpler is usually better when things are out of whack.

 

[IvyBeans]

Can you post pictures of your brooder setup? And are you using a heat lamp or a heat plate? Sometimes chicks can get overheated in smaller spaces, which causes them to drink more and ultimately have runny poops.

The runny poops themselves are likely contributing to any pasty butt.

Have you seen any blood in their stool? Or lethargy? Coccidiosis is unlikely at this age, unless you have water + poop. For example, open source waterers need to be freshened daily to prevent coccidia buildup (since you know those chicks are pooping in it!).

If coccidiosis is a concern, you'll need to purchase Corid (also known as amprolium). This contains a concentrated amount of what's in their medicated feed. It's diluted in water at a ratio of 2 teaspoons to 1 gallon (for liquid Corid), then offered as the sole source of drinking water for at least 5 days. Medicated feed alone cannot prevent coccidiosis once it's gone too far.

I'd also take the ACV out of their water. Simpler is usually better when things are out of whack.

 

[IvyBeans]

The Easter Egger seems maybe a bit better today. The brooder is in a heated outbuilding.

I switched them to unmedicated chick feed, how long will it take for her to get better if it was a vitamin imbalance?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I switched them to unmedicated chick feed, how long will it take for her to get better if it was a vitamin imbalance?

A nutrient deficiency can result in neurological symptoms, such as head-shaking, unsteadiness, etc. It doesn't sound like yours had issues with that?

I'd stick to unmedicated feed (if you've already made the switch) and plain water.

I'm glad to hear your EE is feeling a bit better. Did the chicks that passed have any other symptoms? Were they also struggling with pasty butt?

 

[IvyBeans]

A nutrient deficiency can result in neurological symptoms, such as head-shaking, unsteadiness, etc. It doesn't sound like yours had issues with that?

I'd stick to unmedicated feed (if you've already made the switch) and plain water.

I'm glad to hear your EE is feeling a bit better. Did the chicks that passed have any other symptoms? Were they also struggling with pasty butt?

No, those chicks just kind of stopped eating and were lethargic and then faded.

This EE does seem unsteady on her feet.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm going to tag some more knowledgeable people to help if they're online, so hold tight.

@Debbie292d @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Debbie292d]

The Easter Egger seems maybe a bit better today. The brooder is in a heated outbuilding.

I switched them to unmedicated chick feed, how long will it take for her to get better if it was a vitamin imbalance?

The medicated didn't cause a vitamin imbalance. Some breeds like our silkies are just prone to them. I've have fed medicated before for a couple of weeks at a time with no issues.

Runny poops usually just means they drank a lot.

Discontinue vinegar in their water, as that in itself could upset their guts and cause watery, runny poop.

Pasty butt is just something that sometimes happens. Out of the 25 I have in the brooder right now, I've had three with it. You just need to keep an eye out for it. It will stop happening in a week or two as their bodies learn to regulate their own temperatures better.

What else is in that outbuilding? Gas recreation vehicles? Cans of gas? Any open cans of oil or anything that could be emitting toxic fumes? It doesn't take much; even an air freshener can be toxic to a baby chick.

I would put higher sides on three or four panels of that brooder so there's less drafts from doors opening and people walking around them.

For the EE stumbling, you could give it a couple of drops of Nutri-Drench or Poultry Cell with an eye dropper. Just put a drop on the right side of its beak (its right side), and it'll swallow it. Give it another one or two. You can do that again a few hours later if it's still not seeming better.

Straight chick crumbles and lukewarm/cool water should be all they are on for about a month, nothing else. If you want to treat them in a couple of weeks, scrambled eggs is a great first treat that they will tolerate well and won't need grit to digest.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I am brooding chicks for the third time and I lost 2 a few days ago. Now I’ve had them about 8 days and my Easter Egger won’t walk. Another chick had pasty butt.

I’m not sure if I should keep giving medicated feed in case it’s coccidosis, or switch to unmedicated feed in case it’s nutrient deficiency.

The Easter Egger seems maybe a bit better today. The brooder is in a heated outbuilding.

I switched them to unmedicated chick feed, how long will it take for her to get better if it was a vitamin imbalance?

No, those chicks just kind of stopped eating and were lethargic and then faded.

This EE does seem unsteady on her feet.

At 8 days old, I'd treat for Coccidiosis.
The poop looks quite thin and water along with a little mucous.

There are 9 strains of Coccidia that affect poultry and each strain affects different parts/sections of the intestinal tracts, only 2 of them present with any blood in the poop.

Giving medicated feed is fine, even if you are treating with Corid (Amprolium).
Liquid Corid (Amprolium) dose is 2tsp or Powdered Corid Dose is 1 1/2tsp per gallon of water given for 5-7 days as the only source of drinking water.
Do not add any extra vitamins/electrolytes that contain B1(Thiamine) to food or water during the course of treatment.