new with sick buff orpington

[gardenmama]

Hi, we hatched 13 buff orpingtons three weeks ago, for the first time. It has been a wonderful experience and our children have loved every minute! However, yesterday when we checked on them, we noticed that one was just laying in the corner of the brooder box. So, we took it out and it appeared to be just barely breathing. We saw no blood, but it seems very week and only occasionally tries to stand. When it does, it stands with its eyes closed. We also noticed another chick being picked on and removed it, as well. It appears to be walking a little "off kilter", but otherwise is eating and drinking just fine. I'm thinking it has some kind of injury, as it walks in one direction, but has it's head looking in another. Anyway, I don't know what to do with the first one. I completely expectedly it to be dead this morning and it's still the same. I have separated them from the others. All of our chicks are in cedar shavings, and I'm feeding them Winner Feeds. We were instructed to try sugar water to keep up it's strength, but it seemed to run right through the poor thing, and then it just layed down again. All of our other chicks appear healthy and well for now. Anyway, we've never done this before and don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
gardenmama

 

[threehorses]

The first issue is the cedar shavings. They're very harmful to birds, very aromatic. Please remove them tonight. If you want to use shavings (a good choice) please use pine shavings (like the very dry compressed ones in a big bag for horse bedding - less expensive than pet store bags) or aspen. I'd suspect that is at least 50% of the problem if not more. Particularly because, if ingested, cedar is even more toxic.

On the feed, is the feed a 'chick starter' medicated with amprolium? Or "starter/grower"? If not, that's what they should have.

At three weeks of age, they should be kept at about a temperature of 85 degrees - not any cooler. That shouldn't be a problem in the summer, but if night time temps drop supplement the heat with a white light bulb (100 watts) at one end of their brooder.

I suspect that this baby and the other staggering one might have coccidiosis as cedar shavings are not particularly absorbant as they're very oily - and because you mentioned a bad case of diarrhea in the ill bird (who is being remarkably strong considering - don't give up on him). So treat at least the two with Corid in their water (or Sulmet if you can't find Corid). If the baby isn't drinking, drop a couple of drops on the side of his beak to get him started. You can still put a little sugar or karo in it to give him a little fuel, and even a little powdered oatmeal to make a sort of broth for the first two sips. Do NOT pour down his throat, but putting on the side of the beak should allow him to drink it on his own.

Also all babies will benefit from a feeding laced with plain yogurt for a week to replace and boost the living bacteria that are in their gut that guard against digestive disease. (the yogurt will also help them gain more weight and digest their food more readily.) That mixed into a little oatmeal that was ground find in the food processor when dry and *then* cooked will help with runny droppings. All babies should get that this week each day as a meal first thing in the day. If you can't do it first thing, then remove their feed for 15-20 minutes and then give them the yogurt treat. The smaller babies might have to be hand fed in the sick brooder. Use 1 teaspoon of yogurt per three babies, use just enough cooked oatmeal powder to conceal the yogurt and be eaten within 10 minutes. If some babies hog more than others, pick them up and put them in a little cardboard box til the others can get their share. Then put them back with the others.

Watch for any other listless or droopy babies. If you see any, put them in with the babies being treated.

The Corid must be started immediately. If you can't get a suitable bedding tomorrow, then use papertowels and replace frequently for the day.

Make sure that all their feeders and waterers are cleaned with hot water and soap, rinsed well, and replaced. Keep poop out of the waterers by using something like a brick to raise the waterer to the level of the chicks' backs. That way they're less likely to poop in them (though they still manage) and way less likely to take strolls through the water with poopy feet.

Keep everything as clean and dry as possible.

I do hope this helps.

 

[gardenmama]

Okay, I've changed the bedding to pine shavings, cleaned the water and food trays with soap and water, put them in a new brooder box and started them on the oatmeal/yogurt servings, and also made sure I have the correct chick starter. Just this morning, the Corid was delivered via overnight delivery. However, it only has doses for calves. Can anyone give me a dosage for my baby chicks? By the way, it looks like I may lose another one soon...

Thanks so much,
gardenmama

 

[Judy]

The dosage information, and more, is in this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=174582&p=2

 

[gardenmama]

Okay, please forgive me...I'm new at this. Can I give this same dosage to 4 week old chicks?

Thanks,
Gardenmama

 

[kathyinmo]

Yes, same dosage. 9cc or 2 teaspoons per gallon of water.

 

[gardenmama]

Thanks for all of the information. You have been incredibly helpful. We are doing all that we can, now. So far, we've lost 3 - 2 of them died while I was holding them. It was so sad and pathetic. Our 7 year old cried right along side of me. Please pray that we won't wake up tomorrow and find that another one has gone.

Thanks,
gardenmama