Hi,
I have a question regarding what to treat for first.
Little background regarding my flock:
I have a mixed aged flock, (9) adult laying hens, (15) 4 month old pullets, (4, now 3) broody raised chicks by 2 different broodys, and a lone rooster!
The chicks have always been raised amongst the flock, and seem to be healthier because of it! (I have some very good silkies who will protect their babies from other hens, and a wonderful rooster who helps)
I just had a broody raised chick (9 weeks old) die. I knoticed something was wrong with this chick mid afternoon as everyone was free ranging. I actually took the time to stop what I doing and just sit and watch chicken tv! I immediately knoticed this chick sort of slow, just looking miserable. I tried to catch it and couldn't, so instead of making it worse, I left it alone for awhile and just observed.
When I was finally able to catch it, it shocked me how very thin this poor baby was. Skin and bone.
I separated it, and fed it a enormous amount of mealworms. This poor chick ate like crazy. It was getting later, and I struggled over what to do as far as medical care for this baby.
It had obviously had an appetite, as it gobbled the mealworms like crazy, and I always see it at the 6 different feeders I have out for the flock. I knew after the mealworms I needed to make sure it drank. I took it over and just held her in my hand in front of the waterer. She drank quite a bit.
It was getting late and she seemed to be getting sleepier as evening came. I had to get the flock in for the evening, so I separated her in a crate with food and water inside the coop with her mom.
After everyone was in safely for the night, I went back and felt bad for the chick who still really wanted to be with momma hen.
I took her out and placed her with her mom, and chickmates. She immediately took comfort with momma hen, and I decided to leave them for the night and do reasearch on what to do for her.
Needles to say, she was dead in the morning. She was still in the nestbox with mom and other chicks when I got up at the crack of dawn to check on her.
The other chicks raised by her are still active and foraging just fine.
One thing I did notice after the chicks death is that another one of the chicks poop had worms. Quite a few of the little small worms. They were very knoticable. I need to worm the whole flock, (as they have never been wormed before). However I am wondering why this chick died. Was it possible coccidios?
If so I know it is best to take care of the coccidios first, then worry about the worms.
Here is what I found with the chick that died. I feel bad for not knoticing this chick earlier, however being broody raised it wasn't as friendly as the chicks I raised myself.
It was skin and bones, weak, sluggish, sleepy as the day went on.
I have valbezen for the worms and sulmet for coccidios.
The other chicks have worms, I do know that.
The adults are their normal self.
I really don't know if it died from an overload of worms, or possibly coccidios.
Need advice please.
I have a question regarding what to treat for first.
Little background regarding my flock:
I have a mixed aged flock, (9) adult laying hens, (15) 4 month old pullets, (4, now 3) broody raised chicks by 2 different broodys, and a lone rooster!
The chicks have always been raised amongst the flock, and seem to be healthier because of it! (I have some very good silkies who will protect their babies from other hens, and a wonderful rooster who helps)
I just had a broody raised chick (9 weeks old) die. I knoticed something was wrong with this chick mid afternoon as everyone was free ranging. I actually took the time to stop what I doing and just sit and watch chicken tv! I immediately knoticed this chick sort of slow, just looking miserable. I tried to catch it and couldn't, so instead of making it worse, I left it alone for awhile and just observed.
When I was finally able to catch it, it shocked me how very thin this poor baby was. Skin and bone.
I separated it, and fed it a enormous amount of mealworms. This poor chick ate like crazy. It was getting later, and I struggled over what to do as far as medical care for this baby.
It had obviously had an appetite, as it gobbled the mealworms like crazy, and I always see it at the 6 different feeders I have out for the flock. I knew after the mealworms I needed to make sure it drank. I took it over and just held her in my hand in front of the waterer. She drank quite a bit.
It was getting late and she seemed to be getting sleepier as evening came. I had to get the flock in for the evening, so I separated her in a crate with food and water inside the coop with her mom.
After everyone was in safely for the night, I went back and felt bad for the chick who still really wanted to be with momma hen.
I took her out and placed her with her mom, and chickmates. She immediately took comfort with momma hen, and I decided to leave them for the night and do reasearch on what to do for her.
Needles to say, she was dead in the morning. She was still in the nestbox with mom and other chicks when I got up at the crack of dawn to check on her.
The other chicks raised by her are still active and foraging just fine.
One thing I did notice after the chicks death is that another one of the chicks poop had worms. Quite a few of the little small worms. They were very knoticable. I need to worm the whole flock, (as they have never been wormed before). However I am wondering why this chick died. Was it possible coccidios?
If so I know it is best to take care of the coccidios first, then worry about the worms.
Here is what I found with the chick that died. I feel bad for not knoticing this chick earlier, however being broody raised it wasn't as friendly as the chicks I raised myself.
It was skin and bones, weak, sluggish, sleepy as the day went on.
I have valbezen for the worms and sulmet for coccidios.
The other chicks have worms, I do know that.
The adults are their normal self.
I really don't know if it died from an overload of worms, or possibly coccidios.
Need advice please.
