Plymouth Rock chick looking ill

[micstrachan]

Ah! Here is Bridge at 3 months and her eyes were still green. I had forgotten they started out slate! No good photos, though.

 

[yon100]

Where are you located - US or another part of the world
It is best, if you have it available, to feed growing chicks a commercial Chick Starter. His problem could be nutritional deficiency. I do understand some people are opposed to purchased feed or it's not readily available. If you don't have access to chick starter, then provide your chick with more protein like fish, meat or eggs along with adding poultry vitamins to the water. I would use the vitamins for a full week, then drop to every 3 days, then to once a week thereafter.
See if that makes a difference.

As for if a chick will eat if they have a Coccidiosis overload....sometimes. Most of the time they do go off feed. There's a lot of factors you look at - behavior, appearance and symptoms. A fecal float is the best diagnostic tool.


Just curious, what is it about the color of the eyes that you are noticing?

I'm sorry for being off for a while - I was doing "homework", also I have another chicken that needs attention.
First of all I'm from Israel. Indeed growing free chickens is not so widespread and developed here as in the US, but Chick Starter I can get - there are two kinds - one up to 3 weeks and the second 3 weeks and up. I take your advice and with me subsequent chicks I will combine with starter. I do give them a good source of proteins daily, whether is an egg, quinoa, of compost worms.

Regarding my little fellow, yesterday he looked worse, so I tried to get a vet (getting avian vet is harder here), and consulted him by the phone this morning. His first suggestion was ... Coccidiosis. He said indeed that some of the types are not followed by losing appetite. He commanded a specific type of antibiotic (Sulfa) which I could not get, but a couple of hours ago I did get another type which might also work (Norfloxacin).
This afternoon the chick looked much better than yesterday, so I'm waiting to see him tomorrow morning and decide whether to start the medicine.
I also got a mixture of vitamins which I will also start tomorrow.
Thanks a lot for you help again!

 

[yon100]

I see what you are saying. Yes, the eyes are blue/slate looking, but could be the photo too. Marek's eyes the iris is misshapen (google "marek's eyes" and look at the images).

@yon100 may be able to clarify the color for us, but his chick does not look well. I suspect it's nutritional, but could be wrong.

My adult BR have bay or amber colored eyes. My 4 youngsters have a greenish eye at this time, but I fully expect the color to change over time to match parents. Some BR can also have blue looking eyes when young, but usually change to bay.

My little fella- when hatched eyes were very dark/almost black and have lightened considerably.
View attachment 1356721

Tomorrow I will take a closer look on his eyes and the eyes of his three brothers. But they might not be 100% Plymouth Rock. I got the eggs from a farm which has only PR males, but not only PR females. In any case they were laid by different chickens (which is not my chicken who incubated them ...)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for being off for a while - I was doing "homework", also I have another chicken that needs attention.
First of all I'm from Israel. Indeed growing free chickens is not so widespread and developed here as in the US, but Chick Starter I can get - there are two kinds - one up to 3 weeks and the second 3 weeks and up. I take your advice and with me subsequent chicks I will combine with starter. I do give them a good source of proteins daily, whether is an egg, quinoa, of compost worms.

Regarding my little fellow, yesterday he looked worse, so I tried to get a vet (getting avian vet is harder here), and consulted him by the phone this morning. His first suggestion was ... Coccidiosis. He said indeed that some of the types are not followed by losing appetite. He commanded a specific type of antibiotic (Sulfa) which I could not get, but a couple of hours ago I did get another type which might also work (Norfloxacin).
This afternoon the chick looked much better than yesterday, so I'm waiting to see him tomorrow morning and decide whether to start the medicine.
I also got a mixture of vitamins which I will also start tomorrow.
Thanks a lot for you help again!

I'm glad that he seems better today.
Sulfa drugs and Amprol/Amprolium are commonly used to treat Coccidiosis. I don't know enough about the Norfloxacin to even comment on that-if in doubt ask the vet you spoke with if that would be a suitable treatment option.

I would try the Chick Starter to see if that helps. A diet like you are normally feeding is probably fine for chickens that are healthy, but once one gets sick, having extra protein/vitamins and a diet designed for poultry is something to try to give to get them back on their feet.

Thank you for answers to the questions we asked. I hope your chicks continues to improve, please keep us posted.

 

[yon100]

I'm glad that he seems better today.
Sulfa drugs and Amprol/Amprolium are commonly used to treat Coccidiosis. I don't know enough about the Norfloxacin to even comment on that-if in doubt ask the vet you spoke with if that would be a suitable treatment option.

I would try the Chick Starter to see if that helps. A diet like you are normally feeding is probably fine for chickens that are healthy, but once one gets sick, having extra protein/vitamins and a diet designed for poultry is something to try to give to get them back on their feet.

Thank you for answers to the questions we asked. I hope your chicks continues to improve, please keep us posted.

I have just checked him (it is morning here). He is the same. Might this be blood in the poop? The color is very pale red, I know the photo is not so good.
I will try to get the Sulfa one this morning.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have just checked him (it is morning here). He is the same. Might this be blood in the poop? The color is very pale red, I know the photo is not so good.
I will try to get the Sulfa one this morning.

IF he were mine, I would treat him for Coccidiosis. There is a lot of mucous in the poop. The red could be intestinal shedding, but it does not look normal to me. Finding the Sulfa drug would be a good idea.

 

[micstrachan]

Ivthibk it’sintestinal lining and agree you should find the right drug to treat coccidiosis. Good luck!

 

[yon100]

I'm already convinced regarding the Coccidiosis, but could not get Sulfa. They didn't agree to sell me without prescription. But the starter I bought is for age up to 10 days and contains Coccidiostat. Do you think it might be good enough?

 

[yon100]

Tomorrow I will take a closer look on his eyes and the eyes of his three brothers. But they might not be 100% Plymouth Rock. I got the eggs from a farm which has only PR males, but not only PR females. In any case they were laid by different chickens (which is not my chicken who incubated them ...)

From a closer look his eyes are green! You were right ...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm already convinced regarding the Coccidiosis, but could not get Sulfa. They didn't agree to sell me without prescription. But the starter I bought is for age up to 10 days and contains Coccidiostat. Do you think it might be good enough?

The medicated feed is worth a try. I would provide that as the only thing he eats, no "extras" which would dilute the amount of medication that he would get in the feed.
Try to keep him hydrated the best you can.