Lethargic days old Silkie chick - stumped for a reason for behavior and a cure...

[Swbertrand1]

Keep a close on on how hot it's getting under your lamp. Start raising it daily. 90 would be too hot in my house. I start mine off at 85.

They seem to like it at 90 in their 2nd week, but it's possible the thermometer is off be a few degrees too.

 

[Swbertrand1]

The incubation for coccidiosis is five to seven days, so yes, it's possible. But not too likely as chicks that age aren't on soil as a rule. But contamination can happen in other ways if things aren't as sanitary as they should be.

Corid is one of the meds every chicken keeper should keep on hand since coccidia are everywhere and there are so many strains, new infections are always possible. I'm dealing with that in my flock right now after bringing in new sand for their run.

Thank you.

We have it available at local supply stores, so we feel like we'd lose much of the product if kept on our shelves (in our ICU supplies) due to aging. We're picking it up today to treat the rest of the chicks.

It's worth noting that we mixed two groups of 3 chicks (total of 6 chicks) for this latest batch, and lost one of the first three as well. So, there is the possibility of cross-contamination from one breeder to another. There are two remaining chicks from one breeder, one chick from the other.

We'll treat the remaining three chicks today, though they all appear to be healthy and are very active.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear she didn't make it.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Hi!
It has been a while, nice to see you again.

Nice to see you too!

 

[Swbertrand1]

I would start them both on Corid. For the little one that is failing, I'd jump start her with a direct dose of undiluted Corid at .10ml per pound of weight, so for a tiny chick like this, I'd give her something like 3 undiluted drops or so. Do this twice a day for 3 days.

Liquid Corid 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.

The one breeder has replaced the two chicks today and confirmed that another buyer had three chicks die over the weekend. Thus, she's treating all of all her birds with Corid as a preventative measure.

On the issue of Vit-B1, we have Medicated and Non-medicated Starter. The Medicated Starter Feed has both Amprolium and Thiamine Mononitrate, so it would seem that we need to switch the chicks back to Non-medicated Starter (along with not adding vitamins or electrolytes that contain B1). Would that be correct?

Thank you!
PS: These two that arrived today (via 1 hour car ride) look very healthy and are quite active right out of their travelling box, so things look good for the moment..........

 

[azygous]

Yes, you are correct. Suspend medicated feed during Corid treatment, also vitamin B -1, thiamine. Corid is a thiamine blocker. You do want to get these chicks on B-complex as soon as their Corid treatment is finished because chicks need thiamine.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

On the issue of Vit-B1, we have Medicated and Non-medicated Starter. The Medicated Starter Feed has both Amprolium and Thiamine Mononitrate, so it would seem that we need to switch the chicks back to Non-medicated Starter (along with not adding vitamins or electrolytes that contain B1). Would that be correct?

Medicated feed has a minute amount of Amprolium so it wouldn't necessarily hurt them to be on Corid and the medicated feed at the same time.
Feed has the correct amount of Thiamine in it, you just don't want to add "Extra" supplements that contain B1 Thiamine during the course of treatment.

Liquid Corid 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.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Medicated feed has a minute amount of Amprolium so it wouldn't necessarily hurt them to be on Corid and the medicated feed at the same time.
Feed has the correct amount of Thiamine in it, you just don't want to add "Extra" supplements that contain B1 Thiamine during the course of treatment.

Thank you! That makes sense.

 

[Swbertrand1]

UPDATE:
All chicks seem to be doing well on the Corid treatment. The two new "babies" are thriving, active, eating/drinking like they're never going to see food/water again, and the remaining older chicks have taken to them like they came out of the egg together. All seems to be good.

Thank you to WyorpRock, azygous, and Kiki for their always-helpful information! We'll keep you posted as to their progress.