My chickens are very poorly, I would like a little advice if possible

[Runawaylobster]

On Monday evening I noticed that my beautiful Fayoumi rooster was looking a little off. He normally rounds up all the hens if they stray too far, but on monday he really wasn't doing much of anything. However he was still eating and drinking. Then yesterday evening all kinds of bad things happened.

I found two of my buff polishes dead, and 90% of the others looking awful, Fayoumi was very lethargic along with a few others. I cleaned out their coop, scrubbed down all of their eating paraphernalia etc: During the course of the evening and early today I have lost another four including Fayoumi, with at least two more looking sickly. As soon as the feed store opened this morning I ran up there and got sulmet, and immediately put it in their water. With that done I am now at a loss as to what to do next except sit and watch them die .....

Symptoms are, they are lethargic, some have ruffled feathers, very slow moving, some diarrhea but I don't see bloody stools (however I have read that not all strains of Coccidia produce bloody stools). Tails are down and hunched. Some are better than others. There are nineteen left.

They are about 14 weeks old.

What are the chances that the remainder will survive, and if they do survive will they be non-egg layers?

Will they be permanently contagious to other chickens or new chicks that I add to the flock?

If they all die will i have to burn the chicken coop or will a thorough disinfecting be enough.

Where did this 'thing' come from, I have an orchard and there are doves in the trees, is this a high risk for infection.

L

 

[leadwolf1]

First off, I would switch from Sulmet to Corid. Sulmet only takes care of one type of coccidia, Corid will treat many different strains.

Coccidia is a protozoan found in soil. It is there naturally. Moist hot weather causes them to multiply. Rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, birds...all can carry Coccidia in their systems.

It will not in any way effect the egg laying ability and it not a disease that produce 'carriers'. Any new chicks that you get can be infected but, again, through contact with the protozoan in the soil.

Since your chickens are so ill, I would dose them with the medicated water every two hours until they are drinking well, and often on their own. Dose with as much of the medicated water that you would think they would drink in one sitting.

You will not have to burn anything. If it would make you feel better, you could have one of them necropsied so that you would know for sure what killed them and if there is any concern for the remaining birds or future birds.

If it is Coccidiosis, once the medicine has a chance to work, it will work quickly. A couple days and you will see a big difference.

Is there a possibility that they got into moldy food or some other poison?

 

[Runawaylobster]

Thankyou so much for your reply....

I could not get Corid, none of the stores had heard of it, sulmet was all i could get. I can order some Corid overnight and get it tomorrow I think, so I will do this.

We have had really traditional nasty florida summer weather lately, really hot and nothing ever seems to get dry. It rains alot
and because of the high humidity it's slow to dry off. I can see that this could be a great time of year for growing micro-organisms..

Do I take them to a vet for necropsy?

I buy food one 50lb bag at a time and the start of the trouble did coincide with the start of a new bag, but it looks and
smells OK?

thank you again

L

 

[leadwolf1]

I would get rid of that bag of food, just in case. Sometimes you can't see or smell something wrong.

If you can get Corid, do it. For now, the Sulmet should help. Is there a Tractor Supply anywhere near you? They always carry Corid.

I would have the necropsy done at a state lab, it is much cheaper. You can call your local government extension office or, find the information online.

 

[Runawaylobster]

There is a UF extension right up the street, I will ask them if they can do it.

thank you very much

 

[leadwolf1]

You are very welcome

 

[Runawaylobster]

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice the corid came in today chickies are feeling better not100€ but on the mend. I feel sad for the lost ones but ithink the res will be ok. I lost mt fayoumi 3 buff polish mt arucana anc my buttercup. Hope it neverhappens again but at least now i am more prepared. Thanksagain

L

 

[leadwolf1]

You are very welcome...I'm sorry you had to lose so many