Need advice for sick chickens

[La Gallina]

I am a new "chicken mom" and need advice from those of you with more experience. I bought 8 chicks (future layers), now 3.5 months old. All were thriving and growing until 3 days ago. I noticed 2 were lethargic, sitting alone, puffed up, not eating or drinking (or very little). I removed them immediately. The next day they were about the same, the feed store where I bought them recommended teramyacine in their water, but when I got home from work with the meds, they were already dead. I noticed one had poop which was not watery, but a dark red color and no white. After this I cleaned the ladder and perch in the main coop with bleach solution. They have a nice new coop, bedded with pine shavings. During the day they have free access to a dirt yard about 15x20 feet. I always rake their yard and change their water every morning. They have lay crumble to eat plus a treat every day (ie watermelon, greens, corn, etc. - always fresh, northing spoiled). Am I doing something wrong? Should I be doing something to protect the rest? Now another one looks not as "perky" as the rest, although she still pecks at food and is not puffed up.
Thanks in advance!

 

[CUDA]

You probably have cocci, read THIS for more information on what to do about it. Good luck!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sounds like they might have coccidiosis...terramycin won't touch it...
Use Sulmet instead.

 

[La Gallina]

I did find the Sulmet, and was advised to treat the five healthy hens as well as the sick one. After 2 days sick girl is still alive, but not looking good. Others seem OK. was also advised to keep the others inside coop during 5-6 days of treatment, and to clean out all the bedding and replace with new. Now my question is, once the treatment is done, might they get infected again once they return to the run? It is dirt, dry and somewhat silty. It is hot and dry weather here now. Also the run has net over top, so wild birds and hawks are not getting in, but it is newly constructed so might have been something in the dirt already.

 

[speckledhen]

Sorry for your loss. Clean with ammonia, not bleach. I was doing research and came across something saying that bleach will not kill oocysts, but ammonia will.
They need to develop immunity to it. It will always be in the soil, but they will grow out of it, for the most part. You can heavily lime the run and till it under to help battle it in the soil somewhat. Here is another link I really like:
http://www.cornerstone-farm.com/dealing_with_coccidiosis.htm

 

[CUDA]

There is a product called Novlasan, and you can get it at TSC for this. It is made specifically for disinfecting animal pens, and works very well.