My poor chicks are dying. Help!!

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crtyjlee

crtyjlee

In the Brooder
5 Years
May 5, 2014
37
0
32
This is my first time with chicks. I had bought 4 silkies from a breeder about 6 weeks ago. They were all doing fine-eating, drinking, energetic, growing well. I brought home 2 more babies, polish this time. I had them for about 4 days, when i noticed one of them seemed to slow down a bit. I came home that day and found the other one dead. It was perfectly fine in the morning, eating and drinking fine, and then for no reason was dead. The one that i thought was sick was still alive but not looking so good. i started syringe feeding gatorade and milk replacement formula since it was no longer eating or drinking. It only made it for 2 more days before i lost that one as well. I was pretty dissapointed, so my husband had brought home 4 rhode island reds about a week after that. 7 days later i noticed one of my silkies going through the same symptoms. Just all of the sudden, it became very quiet, wouldnt move much, not eating/drinking, and in the morning it was dead.(i did also notice bloody poop. what does that indicate?) The silkies are about 8-9 weeks old now and all of the sudden this little one dies. :( Everyone else seems to be very healthy! I have them on medicated chick starter. Am i just introducing disease by bringing new birds home? how can i prevent this from happening?
 
Bringing in new birds is the best way to introduce disease.
That's why it's recommended to quarantine new birds at least 2 weeks and at least 40' away from your flock. A month and farther away is better. Also, feed and water your flock before tending the new ones each day and wash up afterward.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/12751/urgent-reminder-please-quarantine-newly-acquired-birds

It sounds like it could be coccidiosis. You may want to get some Corid (amprolium). However you shouldn't dose that on top of the amprolium in the medicated feed so you'll have to feed non-medicated while doing so.

Coccidia is everywhere so it may not have come with the new birds but there are several strains and they may have brought one your birds had not been exposed to.
Keeping bedding bone dry and feeders at least half full helps to fight it.
 
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Welcome to BYC!

So sorry about your flock. I agree with ChickenCanoe, it sounds like this could be coccidiosis. Birds become immune to their environment and when you introduce new birds, there is new strains of cocci, bacteria or visus's that the birds must now over come. The survivors will become immune. So it is always advised to quarantine all new birds for 3 or 4 weeks before mixing to protect your original flock.

I would try the Corid on them. You can get this at most feed stores Use it for 5 days. Don't mix any other chemicals in the water with the Corid. The dosages will be on the bottle of Corid.

You can also post this in our emergency section for more help with this...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

Good luck and I hope you can get all this straightened out before you lose any more birds.
 
Welcome to BYC
frow.gif
Glad you joined us! I agree, it sounds like coccidiosis. Corid (amprolium) is the best treatment for cocci and what you can also do to help, along with the meds, is giving them raw milk, preferable goats milk if you can find some, to drink. Best of luck with them!
 
Thanks for all the replies. I have started everyone on the corid. So far I dont see any more blood. Everyone is eating and drinking. Hopefully they will all be fine!!!
 

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