My chicks are getting bloody rear ends and dying.

[suebee]

Sam, do you have a Tractor Supply or other feed store close by to get the corid?

 

[matlock585]

I did call the tractor supply and ask about corid, but the lady I spoke with also raised chickens and she told me to go to co-op and get sulmet. I will let the chicks out of the brooder now as they are around 5 weeks old and ready to explore, hopefully that minimizes my losses. The ones I seperated seem to be doing better now. It will be in the morning before I can get the sulmet, so I will post more later. Thank you all so much for taking the time out of your day to help me with this, I had no clue what to do. I was stuck to the internet since last night going over every possible thing it might be, and I was leaning toward cocci, but when I saw that one orpington that looked "empty" It made me come here. I'm glad I ended up here anyways.
Bless you all,
Sam
PS: I read milk will also help treat that, have you heard this?

 

[chickengrl]

Sulmet does work, but is very hard on their systems. Most people recommend Corid first because of that. They should have it in the sheep section. I wasn't thinking that it was coccidia since you said that they are kept on wire. Have they been on the ground then some? or contact with other chickens? It wont hurt to try the Corid anyway. Just be careful if you go with Sulmet. Try looking at some old threads on it. Can't seem to remember exactly what the issue is with it. (Long day at work killed my brain)

Oops, more proof of work killing my brain....yes some on here say to add powdered milk 50/50 with their food and it coats the gut and helps it. Good luck

 

[suebee]

I sometimes mix powdered milk to chick starter and never had cocci, but then again, I use a hen to hatch and she takes them to the outdoor dirt within 3 days of hatch, which exposes their immune system to cocci a little at a time. I've never had any full blown cocci breakouts but always keep corid just in case.

The corid will kill the cocci so I'd start with that tomorrow. Medicated chick starter and powdered milk are preventatives.

 

[Judy]

They have learned pecking and feather picking to the point of cannibalism. This is not an easy situation to stop, once it starts. I doubt they are sick. You said they are on wire. Chickens normally spend their day pecking and scratching the ground looking for bugs and bits of greenery. At this point, even if it means exposure to predators, I would turn them loose on the ground and hope the distraction of the ground stops this behavior.

 

[quintinp]

this very same thing happened to my friend he got his chicks from the feed store, they were bantams i think,,, but i am pretty sure that they all died................. neither he or I knew what had happened

 

[matlock585]

They do have a dirt floor in the pen. I put scratch in there for them. but they really did fine outside the brooder, so I think they'll be done with that now. I did go mix them some powdered milk with starter just in case, and tomorrow morning i'll go get the meds. I feel so much better just knowing what i'm up against. and so far, I've only lost 2 of 20 so I'm glad I came here.
Thanks again for all the advice. Quite helpful.
Sam

 

[suebee]

They're too young to have scratch. I know they're bored but I'd stick to the starter for now and let them out on the grass/dirt with the treated cocci water nearby. Make sure they drink that water. Also make sure you're out there to supervise. I'd find something to corral them in outside so it's easier to get them back in later.

 

[Judy]

Sulmet does not work on all strains of cocci. The scratch makes me wonder if this started because of too little protein, since it has very little compared to regular feed, plus not having vitamins and such added.

 

[matlock585]

Thanks to all who replied. My losses were minimal. 2 of 20 and of the 3 I had quarantined one has already rejoined the flock and all are well with no signs of sickness. I'm so glad I came here for advice. I did get the corid and I let them start foraging the yard for bugs. It was so nice to have chickens in my yard again. I've never encountered an outbreak of coccidiosis before, but if it happens again, thanks to you all, I'll be armed with the knowledge ( and the medication since I had to buy a good sized bag of it for 5 tsps.!). I feel so much better about them today than I did the other day. Their personalities are really shining also since they are out and free to go as they choose. I also gave them better food and all seem quite happy with that.
Also since joining the forum and using the breeds pages and descriptions I was able to Identify most of my flock, so for those interested here is a list of what I have.
4 anconas looks like 3 roos and 1 hen but may be 2 and 2
2 cornish cross hens (lost one to the cocci)
3 speckled sussex 1 roo and 2 hens

3 buff orps I beleive 1 roo 2 hens (also one gone due to cocci)
1 cochin bannie roo very cute and stays on the front porch alot waiting on one of the kids to go outside.

2 varies of seabright bannies couldn't tell ya yet on the sexes
3 unidentified bannies all hens I think

now you just have to look out for my homemade incubator post coming up soon!
Thanks again everyone!
Sam Matlock
White Bluff, Tn