Lethargic chick not eating, only sleeps.

[FowlWitch]

Hey, so I was thinking today, and I think I know what killed the chick. 2 days or so ago I fed my chicks some small mealworms my lizard didn't eat. I'm thinking the mealworms may have given them parasites >_<

I only just turned in the dead chick, so I haven't heard back from the lab yet. Should I assume the babies have parasites in the mean time? What kind of critters do mealworms carry, and what steps should I take to prevent any further issues? It was just 2 chicks that were doing poorly, but 3 more have started to lose energy, and I want to keep them healthy, especially the only Svart Hona I managed to hatch :/

 

[Kiki]

Hey, so I was thinking today, and I think I know what killed the chick. 2 days or so ago I fed my chicks some small mealworms my lizard didn't eat. I'm thinking the mealworms may have given them parasites >_<

I only just turned in the dead chick, so I haven't heard back from the lab yet. Should I assume the babies have parasites in the mean time? What kind of critters do mealworms carry, and what steps should I take to prevent any further issues? It was just 2 chicks that were doing poorly, but 3 more have started to lose energy, and I want to keep them healthy, especially the only Svart Hona I managed to hatch :/

No...I highly doubt they have parasites from meal worms.

Coccidiosis is much more likely.

 

[Kiki]

And overheating...is much more likely than meal worms bugs.

 

[FowlWitch]

No...I highly doubt they have parasites from meal worms.

Coccidiosis is much more likely.

They aren't pooping because they aren't eating. I'll have to treat with Corid, so I'll pick it up tomorrow. Is there a specific way to dose young chicks? Also, where would they get coccidiosis if they haven't been around adults? They haven't pooped in the water container, but occasionally they peck each other's poop. I clean the brooder daily, but the poop is still in there until the next day.

And overheating...is much more likely than meal worms bugs.

I fixed the heating issue this morning. They haven't changed their behavior - still sleeping and avoiding food.

 

[Kiki]

Coccidia is every where.
They don't have to be around other chickens to get it.

You dose chicks the same way you would a chicken. Mix the Corid in the water.



The heat...could have been too hot and caused damage.

 

[Kiki]

Are you sure your light bulb is not Teflon coated?

 

[FowlWitch]

Are you sure your light bulb is not Teflon coated?

I don't think so. It's made for reptiles... But my husband keeps vaping in the room :/ I've caught him a few times blowing vape directly over the brooder (I gave him a hard time for that one). I just spoke to him.

 

[FowlWitch]

Coccidia is every where.
They don't have to be around other chickens to get it.

You dose chicks the same way you would a chicken. Mix the Corid in the water.



The heat...could have been too hot and caused damage.

I hope they didn't get hurt from the heat. I gave them some watered down, unsalted chicken broth with a tiny bit of coconut oil and now three are being more active. The two bielefelder runts don't look like they'll make it through the night.

This is probably going to sound a little callous, but if I cull the two that look to be in deaths door, would feeding the carcasses to my snakes harm them? Is coccidiosis harmful to reptiles?

Edit: it's harmful to reptiles.

 

[FowlWitch]

So Tractor Supply was out of Corid in the two closest stores, and the only one that has it is 20 miles away, and tomorrow is a holiday, so I won't be able to get it then. I ordered it on Amazon and it'll arrive Saturday, so in the mean time, I'm going to be hand feeding them "soup".

Soup will consist of either "recipe":

> Green tea with oregano, ACV, and coconut water
> Watered down chicken broth with coconut oil
> Watered down plain greek yogurt with a pinch of oregano and a couple drops of food-grade neem oil

I'm really hoping the neem oil will have an effect on the coccidiosis. In either case, I'm hoping I can keep them all alive until Saturday when the Corid will come in. I lost another chick tonight with 2 more on the way. I have a second pair that are showing symptoms, but I'm hoping I've caught them early enough that I can't keep them from going further down hill.

 

[FowlWitch]

Lost 2 chicks and down to the only Svart Hona I hatched. She's eating and looks strong, so I think she may be okay.