Should I separate (weak/sick) baby chick from the rest?

[azygous]

Do not give them that antibiotic! It's not necessary and unlike amprolium, will affect the chicks in a negative way! I swear, feed store employees are next to worthless if you need advice.

Antibiotics are worthless in treating cocci. Cocci is a parasite, not a bacterial infection!

The reason you don't want to use vitamins when treating cocci is because the B-vitamins feed the cocci. It defeats the treatment.

You need to get on the phone and locate some amprolium, sold under the brand name Corid. That dumb feed store that sold you the tetracycline probably has the amprolium on the shelf under a different brand name. But phone around, even Walmart and pet stores until you locate some. This is life or death for your chicks and time is of the essence! One more day without treatment and more chicks may sicken and die.

 

[henvy]

Thanks so much to everyone! I definitely did NOT give them the anti-biotic. I knew they didn't need tetracycline. I gave them the probiotics and continued to look/call around. I got some medicated food (with amprolium) and have Corid on order.

The chicks are just 4 or 5 days old. And, I've since learned that coccidiosis doesn't develop until about 3 weeks (2 weeks min). But- starting them on the medicated food is a good idea.

The probiotics have helped - as of tonight, no other chicks are sick and the one that wasn't eating or drinking has been eating and drinking. I've checked on them three times since they 'went to bed'. I'm off to bed now myself and have high hopes of finding 6 healthy chicks in the morning (5am when the cats wake me up).

I did find a GREAT feed store in Golden CO - Golden Mill. Good stock, clean, friendly, KNOWLEDGABLE. For anyone in the Denver Metro Area - I recommend them highly.

Thanks again to everyone. I'll post again in the morning.

 

[henvy]

Everyone made it through the night and day today - looking pretty healthy. The one I was/am worried about seems good. Time will tell. She's a bit of an odd duck (chicken). Perhaps she'll be the smartest and most interesting of the bunch.

Thanks again for all of the advice and ideas! I'll be savoring every day and hope everyone is healthy in the morning

 

[henvy]

Well, I lost the one I was worried about. She seemed pretty good yesterday, but this morning she just kept 'sleeping in' or so I was hoping. I came in around 5:30a and she just kept getting worse until she finally passed around 10:30a or so. So sad, and now I'm worrying about another who doesn't seem quite as feisty as she had been and less interested in food/water.

I started them on Medicated feed, since I couldn't find Corid, and probiotics - they've been on both now for two days. I'm thinking I should change the probiotic water, but not really sure (it's been there for two days unrefrigerated - but it's in a nipple feeder, so it's clean).

I'm in Colorado and it's hot and dry, so the litter isn't damp or anything. I'm trying to keep up with the pooping, but they poop a lot. I'm changing litter (pine shavings) every 2-3 days - it's mostly shavings and pretty dry, so I feel like I'm wasting a lot of shavings and stressing the chicks for unknown benefit.

I ordered Corid today and paid for the 1 day shipping so it will be here tomorrow. But, I still don't know that is coccidiosis. None of the poop is bloody or foamy or otherwise indicating coccidiosis.

I've lost 3 of 8 and now worried about another. I feel so helpless.

Any help - advice, phone numbers, etc. are greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone

 

[henvy]

Hmmm, I just saw that on my Blue Cochin (the one I'm now worried abu who's not eating/drinking as much) one of her eyes is irritated - it's watery and she's closing it a lot. It's a little red in the corner by her nose, but no discharge. The baby Buff Orp is starting to bully a bit and she's been pecking the others. I wonder if the Blue got pecked. And, more importantly, what do I do about it.

I'll look around the forum and inter web, but again appreciate advice.

Thanks

edited to add some info: I see that she keeps scratching it also. I'm going to separate her so she doesn't keep getting picked on by the others. but not sure how to treat it or just let it (hope it) heal naturally. ??

2nd Edit: I moved her, but she cried so loud and seemed so distressed that I moved her back. Then I move the bully, and she cried and so did her sisters - so I moved her back too. I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'll keep an eye on them until I go to bed.

Are they likely to peck at night?

 

[henvy]

Update on my chicks: I now have 8 again: 5 are two-weeks old and doing well; 3 are 1 week old and also doing well. All living together, happy and healthy. Phew.

"Treatment": I switched them to medicated chick starter after I lost the first two and a third was looking iffy. I started them on probiotic/electrolyte water and still have them on it. NO antibiotics; NO corid.

Thanks to everyone for all the help and advice.