new update: been told e coli, cocci... still losing chicks

[beepbeepinajeep]

Three weeks ago we started losing chicks very quickly. They would get wing droop and shake and some would have a little loose stool, but I have yet to see blood. We lose the chicks the day after a brief afternoon shower. The chicks are about two months old and have access to an outside run. They have been on Sulmet for these three weeks per both extension agents we have been speaking with. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[dlhunicorn]

you do not say if they were on medicated starter.... three weeks seems an awful long time to be on that med. ... I say stop for a few days and give them a good general supplement like avia charge 2000, some eggyolk through their feed (cooked chopped and mixed through it) and some live culture yogurt perhaps with some powdered acidolpholus (human) mixed through it to help restablish a healthy gut flora.
When (age of chicks) did this begin?

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

Our feed store doesn't carry medicated starter, so no medicated starter. The first chick died at about 5 weeks of age & now they are about 8 weeks. We questioned the length of using the sulmet, but were told to keep it up. I have been doing some hardboiled eggs for them and yogurt. What about apple cider vinegar?

 

[dlhunicorn]

hmmm... did they also advise you on the dosage? (they may have been advising a lower dosage so perhaps aiming in this way to achieve the same effect as the med starter > if so this dosage would be too low as a "treatment" dosage > ask them about this)
Is there no source of amprollium (corrid) in your area? (it is better for young chicks) If not then you can order it online from First State Vet Supply (he will mail overnite):
http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21_29&products_id=197

Peter Brown is very knowledgeable on meds and treating illness and on that page is a button for contact... he is very helpful with his advice to his customers

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

We are going to ask about Corrid at the feed store tomorrow. I will call first thing & order from him if they don't have it locally. We were advised to dose at 2 tablespoons sulmet: 1 gallon water for three weeks. We are now at the end of the three weeks but we lost a chick on Wednesday and a chick today.

 

[dlhunicorn]

they did tell you that you have to make up fresh DAILY didnt they?
(so you cant make up a gallon and use it for a week)

 

[ArizonaNessa]

If I understand correctly about cocci, there are 9 different oocysts in the ground that cause cocci. Corid covers all 9 where Sulmet covers all but one. I don't know if that will help you any. Sorry for your loss.

 

[threehorses]

That really is a long time for Sulmet as sulmet (unlike Corid) is not only a cocciodicide, but an antibiotic. That long of antibiotic on their digestive tract can have it's toll.

And honestly if it doesn't work in a week with Sulmet, then that's not the issue (or it's that one species of cocci that Sulmet doesn't get).

Have you also ruled out other issues like fungal problems, particularly if they're on dirt. The shaking to me says that maybe something else is involved? The food they're on - it's very very fresh, you can smell it - the freshness? You feed it all by one month, yes? It was a starter, now are they on a starter/grower or grower?

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

I do mix up a fresh gallon at least every day (sometimes they go through more than a gallon) The food is fresh; we go through a 50 lb bag at least every three weeks, sometimes every two. What else could we be dealing with?

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

No dead or sick chicks this AM. I didn't use Sulmet in the water. I put in ACV (1 oz:1gallon). I also had some of the powdered probiotics here already & I sprinkled it in the food. I was afraid the acidity of the ACV would kill the good bacteria in the water and thought it might have a better chance in the food. I had some yogurt and gave them that too.