Need some advice on my sick chickens

[GitaBooks]

Difficulty walking can simply be a sign of weakness, but it could also be a sign of diseases like Marek's. However, from what I have heard, Marek's only leads to paralysis, not death.

A good quality food should have everything they need. They are nearing the age where they should start laying, which could be part of the problem. Vitamins can be supplied through giving them greens, insects, and scrambled eggs, as well as dry cat food.

Okay, so the food and pen are clean. Sounds like they are being given good care

. Could the storage bin have musty food in it?

Okay, this is starting to get really confusing. Sometimes people sell bad chicken food that doesn't have the necessary nutrition. Could it have something to do with the food?

Are they pale? Sometimes worms are hard to detect. Worms often lead to paleness of the skin, wasting away and weight loss. Culprits include roundworms and hairworms.

If the corid doesn't work (and I hope it does) than you could try antibiotics as a last resort, to try to treat any infections they could have, such as E. coli. Before antibiotics I would try a dewormer.

I hope they start getting better soon!

 

[jcasaglov]

Thanks for the help GitaBooks. I've had them on Corid for 5 days now and I have still lost a chicken and I think I'm going to loose another one today! These are my bigger, "healthier" looking chickens, too! For instance, my RIR today when I let everyone out of the coop just slowly walked out and came over to me (she is usually very timid around me and won't let me touch her). When I picked her up, her eyes were still open big and bright and her color seems good But when I put her down, she sort of lays to the side and then hangs her wing down. Her crop is empty, but I read that is normal for early morning. If my chickens are dying from Coccidia wouldn't the corid be working by now? Why would I still be loosing more chickens? I'm still feeding them starter feed crumbles and I've added another vitamin/mineral supplement to their water.

I have noticed that some of the chickens still have a pale comb and the skin around their face is pale. But they never got very red (they are about 15-17 weeks old). As a newbie I feel like this could be something that I'm overlooking just because my lack of knowledge. How can I diagnose worms? what to look for and how can do I treat?

 

[ryanhodapp]

You need to take a poo sample to the vet. My 3 month old red sex link died of Coccidia. It has been Very wet in the Midwest. Fluids. Watermelon rind, fresh or can corn, applesauce mixed with food, scrambled eggs.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for the help GitaBooks. I've had them on Corid for 5 days now and I have still lost a chicken and I think I'm going to loose another one today! These are my bigger, "healthier" looking chickens, too! For instance, my RIR today when I let everyone out of the coop just slowly walked out and came over to me (she is usually very timid around me and won't let me touch her). When I picked her up, her eyes were still open big and bright and her color seems good But when I put her down, she sort of lays to the side and then hangs her wing down. Her crop is empty, but I read that is normal for early morning. If my chickens are dying from Coccidia wouldn't the corid be working by now? Why would I still be loosing more chickens? I'm still feeding them starter feed crumbles and I've added another vitamin/mineral supplement to their water.

I have noticed that some of the chickens still have a pale comb and the skin around their face is pale. But they never got very red (they are about 15-17 weeks old). As a newbie I feel like this could be something that I'm overlooking just because my lack of knowledge. How can I diagnose worms? what to look for and how can do I treat?

I would recommend that you consider getting a free necropsy through UC Davis in your state to look for Mareks or coccidiosis. Mareks and some other diseases can lower the immunity to many common illnesses in chickens. The person that recommended a sample of droppings to be tested for coccididia and worms is also right.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

 

[jcasaglov]

I had a necropsy done already about 2 weeks ago from UC Davis. The chicken tested negative for Marek's, avian flu, salmonella, but tested in high numbers with Coccidia. I have, so far, lost 11 chickens out of my original 27 (I've had the chickens for almost 4 months and have grown quite attached). What's frustrating is I tried to do the right thing and I gave them the medicated chick feed for the first 8 weeks and have given them electrolytes and vitamins in their water everyday. They have an incredibly clean coop (cleaned daily) and we live in southern california where we are in a drought- very dry.

I will give them the food you are recommending and I was also told canned tuna.

What is so upsetting is for a couple of days all the chickens seem healthy and happy, and then BOOM one will get lethargic, droopy, and within a day she is gone.

I have no warning. I feel like I just need to give them all a big immunity boost. I've looked at their poop and I can't seen anything move, what other signs should I look for with worms?

 

[GitaBooks]

The corid should already be helping, which makes me think it isn't coccidia causing the illness. Could your corid not be working due to something like a bad brand? I'm really not sure what else to do. You could try looking up different chicken diseases and seeing if yours match any of the symptoms.

I hope they get better soon.

 

[bitsy68]

Quick question about Corid 20%. I have seen all of the threads about dosage - is the dosage the same regardless of the age of the chicks? Mine are about 3 to 4 weeks old.

 

[Eggcessive]

Quick question about Corid 20%. I have seen all of the threads about dosage - is the dosage the same regardless of the age of the chicks? Mine are about 3 to 4 weeks old.

Yes, with most chicken medicines added to the water, the chicks will drink , or should drink enough to get the correct dosage if the medicine including Corid is mixed the same for all ages. The problem with ill chickens is they don't always drink a normal amount since they feel bad.