My 6 week old baby chicks are dying and I'm clueless - could really use help!

[nightowl223]

There are no antibiotics in any 'medicated' feed sold in the US.

Medicated chick feed contains Amprolium, which is a coccidiostat that "aids in coccidiosis prevention" during the first few weeks. A debate can be had whether to consider Amprolium an antibiotic or not, but the point is, it really doesn't prevent much, so it's unnecessary, IMO.

 

[alcstreetman]

I checked them all for lice this evening and they looked good. Only saw one on one chick. I'll definitely get permethrin for them too. Sheesh, I feel like the meds and products and PROBLEMS are never ending. What does an anemic chick act like? My husband is running to the store now to get poly vi sol and vitamin b. Id like to have everything I've read about on hand. Thanks everyone! Any and all suggestions are so welcome, I really, really don't want to lose this chick!

 

[Anime2lover]

There are no antibiotics in any 'medicated' feed sold in the US.

Ive never had any problems with us medicated feed either. Found that it helps more then anything.

 

[getaclue]

Corid, and Amprolium are the same thing, and it is NOT an antibiotic, which is what is in medicated chick starter. I've never found it to be useful, however, the grain mills in our state only do medicated chick starter, so that's all that's available here. I always put Nutri Drench, or Poly vi Sol in the chicks' water until I switch them to a grower feed. Even with medicated feed, chicks can get coccidiosis, in which case they must be treated with a full dosage of Corid/Amprolium.

 

[jsr5]

I can in no way add to what has been said other than do your best. After that it is just condolences for your greiving heart I certainly know the feeling My Angel Baby on my shoulder in my avatar also died in less than 24 hours after that pic was taken one evening she was enjoying a meal worm snack preening my hair and trilling to me as I sang to her by the next night she had plumeted in health and died. It hurts the heart so my full condolences. Do as I have done as I learn and try to get ahead of the next disaster fill boxes drawers and cabinets with all the "tools" these good folks here will reccomend read read and read here and try to get ready for the next crisis.

 

[nightowl223]

I checked them all for lice this evening and they looked good. Only saw one on one chick. I'll definitely get permethrin for them too. Sheesh, I feel like the meds and products and PROBLEMS are never ending. What does an anemic chick act like? My husband is running to the store now to get poly vi sol and vitamin b. Id like to have everything I've read about on hand. Thanks everyone! Any and all suggestions are so welcome, I really, really don't want to lose this chick!

Make sure the poly-vi-sol is without iron. They can't handle the iron levels in it.

 

[nightowl223]

Corid, and Amprolium are the same thing, and it is NOT an antibiotic, which is what is in medicated chick starter. I've never found it to be useful, however, the grain mills in our state only do medicated chick starter, so that's all that's available here. I always put Nutri Drench, or Poly vi Sol in the chicks' water until I switch them to a grower feed. Even with medicated feed, chicks can get coccidiosis, in which case they must be treated with a full dosage of Corid/Amprolium.

It is a medication that treats a disease (when at full strength). If you want to get into a semantics squabble, whatever. It still does nothing to help prevent anything, so I don't use it. Period. If you can't find someplace to get the non-medicated, demand they order it in, or shop elsewhere, or move to the gamebird starter, which is higher protein, and doesn't have any "antibiotics" or any other medicine that does nothing. Semantics squabbles over something irrelevant just takes up space that could be used to help the OP's problem out.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

EE, last Saturday she seemed less active, but it wasn't alarming, by morning, she wouldn't walk. Once I noticed, she went downhill fast. We moved her by herself and about 15 minutes later, I watched her die.

Two days ago, (so they're right about 7 weeks) I noticed my second healthiest seemed less active, though she has always been calm. She was still eating and drinking

This afternoon, she waslaying there and wouldn't get up, finally she got some water but she's in a dire situation now. She won't open her eyes, won't stand. She looks just like my EE did before she died.

they are eating purina start and grow medicated. They have only been inside... they've already had a corid treatment and they are on medicated feed. I just recently moved them to the garage, I turn the red lamp off unless the temp dips below 60 which has only happened a few nights. I think the temp is fine and they're mostly feathered. I did see lice on all of them two weeks ago but I dusted them and haven't seen anymore

1/2 tsp in a quart of water for 7 days.

They've never had bloody poop

I checked them all for lice this evening and they looked good. Only saw one on one chick. I'll definitely get permethrin for them too. Sheesh, I feel like the meds and products and PROBLEMS are never ending. What does an anemic chick act like? My husband is running to the store now to get poly vi sol and vitamin b. Id like to have everything I've read about on hand. Thanks everyone! Any and all suggestions are so welcome, I really, really don't want to lose this chick!

Can you post some photos of the chicks, their poop and your brooder set-up?
Coccodia are protozoa and there are nine strains only 2 strains if I remember correctly cause blood in the stool, so you can't always go by that.

They have never been outside? Where did the lice come from?
I would re-treat them with Corid at the correct dosage of 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water.
Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period. Mix a fresh batch at least once a day.

For the chick that is in the worst shape - I would get her hydrated. Give her sugar water, electrolytes or whatever you have.
Have you been giving them any treats at all? Do they have grit?

If you still saw lice on one, then get rid of the bedding and treat the housing/chicks.
At 6 weeks old - they should really be fully feathered and not need much supplemental heat - do you think they could have overheated?

 

[alcstreetman]

Can you post some photos of the chicks, their poop and your brooder set-up?
Coccodia are protozoa and there are nine strains only 2 strains if I remember correctly cause blood in the stool, so you can't always go by that.

They have never been outside? Where did the lice come from?
I would re-treat them with Corid at the correct dosage of 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water.
Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period. Mix a fresh batch at least once a day.

For the chick that is in the worst shape - I would get her hydrated. Give her sugar water, electrolytes or whatever you have.
Have you been giving them any treats at all? Do they have grit?

If you still saw lice on one, then get rid of the bedding and treat the housing/chicks.
At 6 weeks old - they should really be fully feathered and not need much supplemental heat - do you think they could have overheated?

Yes! I'll post photos in just a moment.

Well, I've gotten chicks 3 times. The first time, the only ones I've had trouble with, are from the first batch. In the first batch I got 6. They were in a garage and could have had the lice from the time I got them but I think the lice came about a week later when I added 2 to the group. Those came from an outside brooder. It's my only guess because I don't think they had lice from the start. After I lost the EE, I added 2 that came from a local feed store and they do not have any lice and they seem perfect, they are crated separately right now. They are inside the house with one from the first batch that was getting picked on. She is not thriving. She is having growth and eye issues but that's a whole different story.

I lost my chick early this morning. I tried adding vit b to her water last night but she was too sick. I squirted nutridrench in her mouth last night, she was separated, I don't know, but she didn't make it.

I had been giving them electrolytes off and on this whole time but decided to stop because I read it can give them the runs.

They didn't get treats, I just started giving a few live mealworms about 3 days ago to my chick that is small (hoping she would start showing signs of growth) and I gave all the other chicks one or two but that's all they've had other than their feed. They have had chick grit for about 2/3 weeks now.

I do think I was keeping them warmer than they needed but I don't think they died due to this.

For the last week, they have been outside and the light is off during the day. I live in GA and the temps are around 70-80 during the day but we did have a few cold nights last week that were about 45 and every night I've been turning the lamp on. Now the lows are going to be around 60 and I'm wondering if I should just be done with the lamp all together?

Also, I started another round of corid last night. I have been doing 2 tsp in a gallon of water, which is the same ratio I used previously for 7 days. Is it possible that with a treatment of corid about 2 weeks ago and medicated feed, they could STILL be affected by cocci?

I really appreciate all the help and encouragement. I've read threads and articles for HOURS and nothing seems spot on. It's funny because I'm completely new to this but when I read other posts, I usually know what the group is going to say yet I'm at a loss with my ladies. I'll post pictures of my set up and see if anyone notices anything that might be helpful.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well, I've gotten chicks 3 times.

She is having growth and eye issues

Also, I started another round of corid last night. I have been doing 2 tsp in a gallon of water, which is the same ratio I used previously for 7 days. Is it possible that with a treatment of corid about 2 weeks ago and medicated feed, they could STILL be affected by cocci?

If you will post some photos that may help.

You got chicks from 3 different "sources"?
All are around the same age?

You already treated for Coccidiosis? When?