Pullets suddenly dying.

[aart]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coccidiosis-video-worth-watching.1262022/#post-20259051

That was very interesting....biggest thing I picked up there was not to use medicated feed if chicks have been vaccinated.

 

[coach723]

I stopped using medicated feed a long time ago. I wouldn't criticize those who do, but I'm not convinced that it's terribly effective (so many times I hear of chicks on it that still get coccidiosis), I worry that it may prevent or impair proper immunity building, and thirdly concern over introducing a thiamine deficiency in my chicks. So, I'm far more comfortable using unmedicated and doing as I do to reduce risk, and treat if necessary. But I know that others swear by it.

 

[aart]

I stopped using medicated feed a long time ago.

Have never used it....bought a packet of Corid when starting 6 years ago, never needed that either.

 

[daydreamtime]

I've lost 7 of them. Two more this morning, the area is clean and dry, though the outbreak started when I was gone for a week and the person watching them did not keep the area clean and dry, they were also introduced to new birds. It is hot, I have fans on them, I'm giving them corid, I don't know what else to do. They've been doing at a rate of a bird a day. I even gave all of them corid individually. I'm dying here. I've never had the happen before.

 

[daydreamtime]

Okay, it finally ended, and I didn't lose as many to that issue as I had assumed, I had another problem and I feel like I'm living in a crazy world. A while back, a hawk flew into my garage and went after my brooder and injured the babies. It could have been worse, but I had the top covered. They were in the middle of the garage with wide open space. So, I moved the brooder to the very back behind a dresser, and I never open the door all the way only able 3 feet. Well, while I was out on a job, my husband kept finding the above mentioned dead birds. He calls me the morning to tell me another is dead, but its head is gone, he thinks it died, and the other chickens ate it. However, when he went back out there, he sees the hawk hidden in the corner perched on the shelving, and there's evidence it's been there for a few days, living in the garage and terrorizing the chicks. There's a cover so it can't get them out, but it's trying, and it did not want to leave, they had to force it out. I live on 43 squirrel and rabbit covered acres, but I'm battling with a hawk coming and living in my garage and trying to eat my birds. It was all quiet and hiding, not making any noise. Is that normal?

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh no, I am glad that you discovered the hiding hawk that was killing your birds. Sorry that you lost so many.

 

[coach723]

I'm so sorry! I've no idea if that's normal or not, but any predator will go after what it perceives as easy prey. Maybe it was a young hawk that's still learning. Glad you found it and it's out now. Those poor babies, how terrifying for them!

 

[micstrachan]

Unbelievable! Crazy there was a hawk INSIDE your garage. So sorry for your losses.

 

[daydreamtime]

I never expected that, I've never seen one act that way. They are usually wary of people, in my experience. My husband said he practically could walk up to it and it wouldn't go, it was trying to fight him.

 

[jolenesdad]

So sorry for your losses!

Coccidia are everywhere, this is one of the most common issues with chicks. New birds can bring in new strains, putting birds on new ground can introduce them to previously unexposed to strains. Once they are exposed, survive if they become ill, and have a chance to build some resistance they are at less risk. Older birds usually will only become ill if they have compromised/weakened immune systems or are exposed to a new strain. Chicks have not had the opportunity to build resistance and are most at risk. I will post the treatment chart for Corid below, for future reference (use the severe outbreak dosing), if you are using the Corid liquid then the dosages given before are correct. I will also give you a link for the oral dosing instructions that is given in addition to the medicated water. In addition a link to a very informative video on coccidiosis. When raising chicks in a brooder I start day one with giving them a plant saucer of dirt from the yard (not from the chicken run) to dustbathe and scratch around in. It's easily cleaned and dumped for fresh soil. As they get older I add a bit of soil from the chicken run. This allows them to be exposed to all the microbes in the soil naturally and have a chance to build resistance. I always have Corid on hand in case I have an outbreak since time can be critical to save them, but since starting to innoculate them with soil from day one I have had much less incidence of illness. Rainy periods where the ground stays wet for a while can sometimes cause a coccidia 'bloom' where numbers explode, and that can lead to an outbreak also. Keeping their brooder dry and as clean as you can, not letting droppings build up, and keeping feeders and waterers clean from droppings can help to prevent the spread. You cannot eradicate the coccidia from the environment, but you can take measures to reduce the risk.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/
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https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coccidiosis-video-worth-watching.1262022/#post-20259051

Bookmarked. Thank you!