Serama troubles

[Holliberri]

So I purchased four serama from across country. They hatched the beginning of May, I’ve had them 3 weeks. They’ve been so much fun. Three died yesterday, I’m assuming cocci as the one that died in my hand was pooping blood and yellow stool.

I have one little gal left. She is sick, but she really is fighting. I always thought that sounded so cliché, but she is! She’s accepting liquids every hour and little bite of yogurt and applesauce. She peeps constantly and even flew up to me when I put her down for a couple minutes. I have her bundled in a towel and she sleeps most of the time. I was told that adding corid to this little chicks water might kill her, overdose for such a small young chick. Any suggestions would be helpful.

And if she should pull through, then what? She’s all alone. Will she pass it on to another bird?

 

[Orpingtons43]

So I purchased four serama from across country. They hatched the beginning of May, I’ve had them 3 weeks. They’ve been so much fun. Three died yesterday, I’m assuming cocci as the one that died in my hand was pooping blood and yellow stool.

I have one little gal left. She is sick, but she really is fighting. I always thought that sounded so cliché, but she is! She’s accepting liquids every hour and little bite of yogurt and applesauce. She peeps constantly and even flew up to me when I put her down for a couple minutes. I have her bundled in a towel and she sleeps most of the time. I was told that adding corid to this little chicks water might kill her, overdose for such a small young chick. Any suggestions would be helpful.

And if she should pull through, then what? She’s all alone. Will she pass it on to another bird?

Try putting some “Sav a chick” vitamin powder in her water. Maybe take her to a local bird/exotics veterinarian? If they want to put her down I’d leave. As long as she is fighting strong hopefully it is nothing she can’t handle. I’ve personally never dealt with this before. I wish I could help more. I hope she makes it!!

 

[rebrascora]

So sorry you already lost 3 of them. How heart breaking!

I believe Corid is pretty safe even to overdose and putting it in the water, she will only drink as much as a small bird needs but a drop or two of the neat solution (if you get liquid rather than powder) is often used to treat really poorly chicks to help them beat it. If it is coccidiosis and it has already killed 3 of them, the chances are it will kill her too unless you give her medicine to kill it and the longer you wait the less likely it will have time to work before she succumbs. I don't have experience of seramas so be guided by others that do, but if no one else responds I would use the Corid. They are still chickens, just very small ones, so it should be safe. Who told you not to use it?

Coccidia are everywhere and animals usually build up a resistance to it as they get older. Did you use medicated feed for the chicks? That usually helps to keep the levels of coccidia in their gut low until they build up a resistance to them but occasionally overgrowth can occur. Brooders can be places where coccidia thrive because of the warm, moist environment and sometimes that can result in a sudden overgrowth of them. So I would not worry about her passing it to other chicks in the future, it is not a virus. If she is fighting it then I would say help her by giving her some Corid and worry about how to help her cope with being a lone chick or find her companions when/if she survives.

 

[Holliberri]

Thanks, I’ll have my husband pick it up on his way home. The gal at tsc, she keeps chickens and her recommendation was to take her to a vet. I’m going to be honest, as much as I love my chickens, they’re still chickens. I’m willing to try the corid, but $80 to be seen isn’t in my wheelhouse.

 

[rebrascora]

I understand entirely. I cannot countenance veterinary treatment for my chickens either, so I do lots of research and learn as much as I can. There are a few people here on BYC whose advice and judgement I would trust over the average vet who knows little or nothing about chickens but will happily charge me a fortune to have a look anyway. Many people worry that because Corid is in the cattle section, the dosage will be too strong but if you are putting it in the water at 2 teaspoons per gallon of liquid or 1.5 teaspoons of the powder, a hen is only going to consume a tiny fraction of what a calf would. I would give her one small drop of the neat liquid directly into her beak and then treat the water after that and see how she goes.
Good luck

 

[Holliberri]

Well, I started giving her corid. She’s kept up drinking and finally ate some crumb. Her poo is looking more brown and less red, haven’t seen red since around noon. So I guess this is all a good start.

 

[rebrascora]

So pleased to hear she is picking up. Have you put a mirror and a little cuddly toy in with her? That will help with loneliness until you can start looking for some real companions for her.

 

[Penguinscraps]

I’m curious how your little hen faired? I need to re-home some new chicks and wish you were in my area so I could give her some companions!

 

[Holliberri]

She made a full recovery! I was able to find her a companion not too far from home. Little younger than her, still waiting to see if I have two hens or one of each.

 

[Penguinscraps]

That’s great news!! I’m happy to hear it!