New Owner - 5-6 Week Old Chicks - Possible Issue

[jmurf]

I received 4, 5-6 week old chicks yesterday morning. 2 Easter Eggers and 2 Barred Rocks. I ordered from a hatchery and they were shipped USPS. When I put them in the temporary coop yesterday. They all were eating and seemed to be well. Yesterday afternoon they seemed to be well also, and the waterer level had dropped a good 3-4 inches, so I assume they were all drinking. Later in the evening both BRs appeared like they were ready to sleep, and did close their eyes as my daughter and I sat and watched them. The EEs seemed to have more energy than the BRs. This morning, I went in to the garage, and opened both doors to air it out. I cleaned the feeder, and refilled (Using Nutrena Starter-Grower). Both EEs were fluttering around the coop, scratching, eating, and drinking. One of the BRs was eating and drinking, but not as rambunctiously as the EEs. The other BR was puffed up and didn't move. I reached in to stroke it's back and it moved slightly. I moved it next to the feeder, and it would lower its head toward the dish, but not eat. 20 minutes later, I looked in prior to leaving for work, and the BR was still next to the feeder, puffed up, with eyes closed. I picked it up, it didn't resist at all. I looked her over, and noticed a small amount of white, I assume poop, on the feathers by her vent. It wasn't a lot, just a small amount along the edge of a few of the feathers.

Do you think this BR is having issues. Could it be from 2 days of shipping in a box?

 

[Pyxis]

What are your temperatures like now? They might be getting cold. Lethargy and sitting puffed up like that can also be a sign of coccidiosis, so we don't want to rule that out.

 

[jmurf]

They were vaccinated for that I believe. Can they still get it with vaccination? I have them in an insulated garage. Temp in there is around the 70s at night, 75 during the day.

I went home at lunch and the chick had died. Could it have been shipping stress?

 

[Pyxis]

Yes, it could have been.

Are you sure it was coccidiosis and not marek's they were vaccinated for? A cocci 'vaccine' isn't really a vaccine anyway, what happens is they feed the chicks live oocysts to infect them with it using a hopefully low danger strain. But that doesn't always work out and some do die from it.

 

[jmurf]

Just confirmed, they were vaccinated for Mareks and Coccidiosis.

 

[jmurf]

Well, separated her earlier today and she picked up a bit. Gave her an open waterer and food. She drank a good bit and seemed to pep up. She had some watery poop, but it seemed to get slightly more solid. Received some advice and read about Corid on here. Decided to treat all three birds since they had been together. Just went and checked and found some blood. At this point, I imagine it's Cocci. We'll see how the treatment goes.

 

[Pyxis]

Yep, that's what I suspected. Treat them all, the others almost definitely have it too and just haven't been as affected yet.

 

[jmurf]

Just pulled the liner and shavings out of the main coop where the EEs are and replaced with new. Already treated all of their water. Wondering if our BR will make it through the night.