Newbie with 9 week old chicks pooping blood (just got them last night)

[jessienicole]

This is my first batch of chickens ever and I am not having a good start. I wanted some silkies/frizzles and saw an ad for some locally. I called on the ad and went to pic up about 4 last night. The lady had them in a tent in a shed and told me she had MS and could no longer care for any of them (13) and asked if I would take them all and sell what I didn't want. Realizing that they were in a very bad position I agreed.

Well I got them home and am having a few different issues and need some help since I am VERY new to this (less than 24 hours, ha!).

1. After I got them home I realized around 1/3 to 1/2 of them were pooping blood. Bright red, some of them straight blood. I got on this forum and realized I needed to get them on medicated feed (they were getting a generic layer feed at the old place) and Corid immedtiately (my husband went and got some first thing this morning and they are on it now) Is there more I should be doing? They are alert and chirping don't seem to be lethargic at all. Also I have a two year old son. Should I be concerned about the birds passing something on?!?!?! Also once it is cleared up do I need to be concerned about it coming back? How do I know the treatment is successful?

2. I am getting chicks delivered in mid-May and I had them vaccined. Do I need to be worried about these chickens and those new chicks mixing? Can I still vaccinate the 9 week old chicks?

3. I don't want all the chickens I picked up last night just felt like I needed to get them out of there. Is there a good place to list chickens for sale to find them a good home?

4. One of the black (female I think) frizzles has two deformed legs and can hardly walk. Should I keep working on her to see if she will get better? Is she in pain? I have her separated right now to avoid the other chickens pecking at her but I am afraid that she might get lonely without her friends.

Obviously this is a lot for a newbie so any advice is appreciated?

Thanks so much!!!

 

[binza1979]

What a horrible situation to start off with! Good call on the medicated feed and corid.

As for the lame foot, it might improve, it might not. If you see improvement, keep...if not, cull.

What are you having them vaccinated for? I do believe that you can't do 9 week old chicks (depending on what you ave vaccinating for).

Where are you located? That will determine where you should list to try to sell them.

Good luck and welcome to BYC!

 

[jessienicole]

I am in Colorado Springs.

I am getting the chicks from McMurray hatchery and having them vaccinated for Coccidiosis and Marek's.

Thanks for the help I just am trying to figure out how to handle. Should I be doing anything more?

Thanks!

 

[binza1979]

Try Craigslist to get them rehomed.
You have to vaccinate soon after they hatch, so good plan on the vaccine from the hatchery, but too late for the older birds.

 

[Zonoma]

Cocci is treatable with antibiotics. They should be fine after a ten day treatment and some good feed. Good call to have the chicks vaccinated.

I wouldn't sell them off on craigslist unhealthy. That's a good way to get a bad rep really fast. If they are that sick, cull them.

 

[jessienicole]

Thanks. Will not be listing any chickens until they are healthy. How do I know treatment works? How long after treatment could I sell? They seem fine tonight, still a little blood in stool but perky and chirping.

 

[Zonoma]

You will know because they will live. Cocci kills chicks if left untreated. So, it will be definitive results!