Need help asap - Dying Chicks

[Chakara]

Hi all. I recently got some chicks from a breeder. All of the sudden they have just started dying. I've contacted the breeder & local feed store and everyone is clueless. The chicks are under 4 weeks old. They become lethargic, stop eating, have bloody stool and then die. There's no sign of a respiratory issue, eyes, feathers, vents are all normal until the symptoms start. It is so fast. They will go from normal to dead within 10-12 hours. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Wyandottes7]

This is Coccidiosis. You need to get Corid as soon as possible! Coccidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract that can kill quite quickly, as you have experienced. It causes all of the symptoms that you've listed; there is not question that this is Coccidiosis.

Get some Corid liquid or Corid powder. These two products are sold for cattle, but can be used for chickens. The dosage for Corid liquid is two teaspoons per gallon of water, and the dosage for Corid powder is 3/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. Both medications are given for five days.

Make sure to change the Corid water daily. Also, don't feed any apple cider vinegar, dairy products, or supplemental vitamins while using Corid. Corid works by depriving the protozoa that cause Coccidiosis of the vitamin thiamine (B1), so giving them vitamins would make it less likely to work.

Hope this helps!

 

[BantamLover21]

This is Coccidiosis. You need to get Corid as soon as possible! Coccidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract that can kill quite quickly, as you have experienced. It causes all of the symptoms that you've listed; there is not question that this is Coccidiosis.

Get some Corid liquid or Corid powder. These two products are sold for cattle, but can be used for chickens. The dosage for Corid liquid is two teaspoons per gallon of water, and the dosage for Corid powder is 3/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. Both medications are given for five days.

Make sure to change the Corid water daily. Also, don't feed any apple cider vinegar, dairy products, or supplemental vitamins while using Corid. Corid works by depriving the protozoa that cause Coccidiosis of the vitamin riboflavin, so giving them vitamins would make it less likely to work.

Hope this helps!

X2 If you don't get Corid soon, more chicks will die.

 

[Sjisty]

I agree with the above. Corid is the best treatment. Hurry!

 

[daystardoberman]

Wow, I've been dealing with cocci for years in my puppies, I had no idea how Corid worked. Also, the medicated chick starter has amprolium in it too. Is there any reason you wouldn't use the medicated chick starter?

 

[cafarmgirl]

Good heaven's why on earth did the breeder not know what to suggest based on those symptoms?! Classic coccidiosis!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Wow, I've been dealing with cocci for years in my puppies, I had no idea how Corid worked. Also, the medicated chick starter has amprolium in it too. Is there any reason you wouldn't use the medicated chick starter?

The medicated starter contains very low levels of Amprolium, it will not even prevent coccidiosis in all cases, birds can and do still come down with it while on medicated feed. It's value is arguable for that reason. It definitely will not treat an actual outbreak.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Wow, I've been dealing with cocci for years in my puppies, I had no idea how Corid worked. Also, the medicated chick starter has amprolium in it too. Is there any reason you wouldn't use the medicated chick starter?

Medicated chick starter is only a preventative measurement. It slowly creates immunity to Coccidiosis. However, if a chick gets Coccidiosis before it has become resistant to the disease, the medicated chick starter will not be enough to treat it. It does not contain a high enough level of amprolium for treatment. Thats why you need to use Corid if your birds get Coccidiosis. Even if fed for a long time, medicated feed does not prevent all strains of Coccidiosis. There are nine types of Coccidiosis in chickens, so a bird may build resistance to one, but may be affected by another.

 

[Chakara]

Hi everyone! Thank you! I found the Corid and also did some additional reading here on coccidiosis. I have been giving it to the three survivors overnight by syringe. Its still touch-&-go, so I'm hoping the little girls pull through.

I've had them on medicated feed, so they came with the cocci. :-( I am done with that breeder for sure.

Sorry for my delay - I have never lost a chick and was beside myself yesterday (I don't breed - just pets/eggs)! Hopefully I'll have good news to share soon!

Thank you again!!!!

 

[BantamLover21]

Hi everyone! Thank you! I found the Corid and also did some additional reading here on coccidiosis. I have been giving it to the three survivors overnight by syringe. Its still touch-&-go, so I'm hoping the little girls pull through.

I've had them on medicated feed, so they came with the cocci. :-( I am done with that breeder for sure.

Sorry for my delay - I have never lost a chick and was beside myself yesterday (I don't breed - just pets/eggs)! Hopefully I'll have good news to share soon!

Thank you again!!!!

Just so you know, medicated feed is not a sure way of preventing Coccidiosis. If a bird is introduced to large quantities of Coccidia, or to a different type of Coccidia (like when they move to a new home), the medicated feed isn't always enough to prevent their bodies from becoming overloaded.