Please help, chicks keep dying

[JesBarthel]

If it is Cocci, and your using Corrid, don't use any other vitamins or supplements because it will counteract the Corid. Corid is a Thiamin blocker, which is what feeds the intestinal parasite, so it essentially starves the parasite so it can't reproduce. Unfortunately, once the bloody stools appear, it can be too late. I learned this the hard way with my first batch of chicks a few months ago Just keep them on the Corrid, cross your fingers, and hope for the best

 

[wrongmary]

I have so much to learn . I lost another tonight. I called the breeder, she claims all her chicks are healthy, that she is top of the line. She blames the death of them on the wood shavings purchased from tractor supply. She said they will eat them, causing intestines to bleed. Anyone ever heard such? As I said before, my first group grew fine. I've changed nothing different. She said newborn chicks must only be on shredded paper. Any advice?

 

[Coopnana]

I am so new to this myself and have much to learn...but my 4+ week old chickens have only been on pine shavings and seem to be doing fine...fingers crossed.

 

[nbenevento]

I have never heard of pine shavings making chickens sick or them eating them and making their intestines bleed or whatever she said. That's not to say it hasn't happened, but I have never heard of it. I currently have 30 chicks / chickens and everyone of them were raised in pine shavings. Never had a problem anything like that. I have switched my biggest birds to sand but they all grew up in pine shavings. As someone else predicted, the breeder was not going to accept fault. Sorry you losing all of your chicks. I am also sorry to say that the chances are you are going to lose them all. I would basically sterilize your brooder or make a new one altogether and start again from a different breeder.

 

[amnich]

Unfortunately, developing an immunity to coccidiosis is something that all chickens must do. When they are very young they are more susceptible to not being able to handle it. We went through the same - didn't realize that ALL older birds are carriers, we assumed that because ours hd never been sick they could not give the babies coccidiosis. Anyway, to move forward, definitely get some Corid 9.6, I use 2 teaspoons per gallon. Change the entire gallon of water and add new Corid every day for all 5-7 days of treatment. Keep some Corid on hand for future use, coccidiosis is one of those things that always seems to come back. To prevent this from happening to your chicks in the future, feed them medicated while letting them outside for a little while each day. Basically what this does is put them in contact with the parasites, but the medication prevents the parasites from building up and getting out of hand. This lets the chicks gradually acquire an immunity to the disease. Sorry this happened to you!

 

[wrongmary]

That's the thing, I've never heard such. I've always read and been told to start them on the shavings. Any suggestions on where to purchase, where I won't have to constantly worry? I'm just amazed. I was really wanting to help local farming, but not if it ends like this

 

[nbenevento]

What breed did you get and want? I got most of my chicks from a hatchery, Meyers Hatchery in Ohio. I got my Black Copper Marans chicks from a small breeder here in PA, Murano Hatchery. They are pretty much a home based hatchery but I picked them up from them and all of their birds seem healthy and happy.

 

[SobbaChickens]

....She said newborn chicks must only be on shredded paper. Any advice?

Bullhockey IMO. I know many people do use shredded paper, I did the first few days I had my chicks but I've also read that shredded paper is too slippery and can cause some kind of leg injury.

 

[JesBarthel]

Like everyone has said, wood shavings are generally just fine. I have heard of it causing death in chicks before, but definitely not on the scale of mortality you're experiencing. If you're really worried about it, you could try switching to the aspen shavings that Tractor Supply sells. The pieces are relatively large, and trickier for a chick to swallow if it were so inclined.

Does it seem as though any of your chicks' health have improved at all since you started the corrid?

 

[wrongmary]

I lost nine chicks in three days. There is no possible way that many could've been affected by pine. The others seem ok this morning. Woke up and none are laying down or gasping for air. I really wanted variety. I'm new and never even knew there were so many different types. I purchased this time BO, RIR, tetras, leghorns, and one more type. I'm absolutely fascinated by them now, and want to learn and discover all I can. They gave two baby roosters. They knew i was a Newby . I was looking forward to pink eggs and seeing what kind of chicks I could grow. I'm very grateful for all of you. Without you guys I'd be very lost.