Oh no...sick chicks! It's coccidiosis!!! :(

[Judy]

Live culture yogurt is a probiotic (read the yogurt carton.) It replaces the normal flora in the gut that the Sulmet will kill off, along with the cocci. It is a good idea any time chicks are sick, and they need it a while after the Sulmet, as well, to get their good gut flora going again. You can also buy probiotic powder or something in some feed stores; serves the same purpose. Organic ACV is another probiotic, as is acidophilus milk.

Good for people, too, to eat yogurt during/after an antibiotic.

 

[Andora]

What kind of medication did the feed store give you? How much of it are you using? Corid (same thing as Amprolium) is the best, most effective treatment. If you can't find that anywhere then Sulmet is the next best thing, but I have found that Sulmet does not work very efficiently and seems to weaken the birds more.

When my chicks get cocci, I isolate the ones that look even the slightest bit puffed up or lethargic. I put Corid in their water along with ACV. Even if they are able to drink, I still take a small syringe and give them 1-2 syringe fulls of the water every 2 or 3 hours during the day. If they aren't eating I give them a syringe full of sugar water or fresh strawberry squeezed into water with the syringe several times a day to perk them up. I offer them extra treats if they don't want to eat--healthy scratch (with whole grains), scrambled eggs, berries, cooked oats, yogurt, whole milk, defrosted frozen corn, etc. Once they start eating again I give them mash made with the Corid water, ACV, plain organic yogurt, and organic powdered milk.

By doing that I didn't lose a single chick to Cocci this year! (It seems to live in my soil, and despite my best efforts my new chicks almost always catch it in the spring...)

If all of your birds get it, don't panic. It's not an illness that has lifelong repercussions. After they get over it, they will be fine and immune to it.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

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The Yogurt, like Activia with the probiotics added back into, you can buy it at your grocery store... is just to boost their immune systems and throw some good bacteria into their bodies, lots of nutrients...Its just an added extra, It might help though.

 

[yotetrapper]

They gave me Sulmet. I only dosed the ones that looked worse, but I did notice the others are drinking well. I can't do anything every 2-3 hours. I need to leave in ten minutes for work, and wont get home until 4am. At that point I will dose by hand anyone who is very sick and still alive, and replace the medicated water in the rest of that brooder.

I plan to buy some probiotic yogurt, and tomorrow I will crush up strawberries (I have an abundance right now) to see if I can encourage them to eat. But... they are eating. They ate two whole long red chick feeders of food this morning.

I appreciate everyones advice!! One more question though...what is ACV???

 

[Andora]

It's good that they are eating!! Usually they stop eating before they fall over dead. If you soak a crushed strawberry in a cup of water, then suck up the water with a syringe, I've found that perks them up really well.

ACV is apple cider vinegar. I don't know why, but it seems to be great for a sickly flock and then maintaining health. It also keeps algae from growing in the waterer.

 

[Judy]

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I think perhaps I was not too clear (again.) The carton won't say probiotic, it will say live cultures. Dannon and Breyer's are live culture yogurts, and there are plenty more. Give them plain yogurt.

On the ACV, it is a probiotic if it is organic, and will have a "mother" in it. The mother is also a live culture. Some groceries carry it in the health food section, Bragg's is a common brand, or sometimes you have to go to a health food store. You can even add some of the mother to regular store bought apple cider vinegar and make more. Shake it up so a little of the mother goes in the water. 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp to a gallon.

 

[yotetrapper]

Well of the 6 worse ones I seperated, I lost 5. The other one is noticeably better. Was standing there in a box of dead and dying chicks. As for the ones I never seperated, they seem noticeably better as well. Running around, eating, drinking, even making "happy chick" sounds. Can the Sulmet make a difference that quick?? Only 12 hours?

I gave them yogurt, but they dont like it. Any tricks to get them to eat it?

 

[hillerfamily]

oh yes you deffinetly got it

and its because of poopy water and a natural bug so dont freak out some may pass feed them clean water with a surenge.thats what i did constantly be changing news paper or whatever thats unhealthy.

often hold them and feed them 3 times a day.and maybe give a snack of their own food.

 

[Judy]

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Mix a little with a little of their feed or some treat they like. Scrambled eggs would probably work. More likely they are afraid of it than don't like it.