Sick Chick

[dringge]

I am real newbie with chickens. I picked up a 1/2 doz chicks locally from a chicken enthusiast. I picked up 4 buff orpingtons and he offered 2 Ameracaunas. Of course I will give them a try. The 2 Ameracaunas are tiny compared with the BO's. The Am's are about 3 weeks old. Yesterday one them was kinda wobbling around, lethargic, head down. I picked it up with no struggle and it kept wanting to close its eyes like it was drowsy. I did a bunch of checking on here and thought maybe it had cocci. I gave it medicated chick starter and probiotics in the water. It seems a bit better sometimes and sometimes not. Late yesterday it was stretched out under the light and was breathing really hard. I checked a bit later and it was eating but still wobbly. Today it eats is wobbly stands pretty still with its head hung down. I am lost. Its still in with other chicks. They are all lively. I don't want to lose this little chick. It happens to be my favorite of this bunch. Any suggestions?
This also made me aware that I am not prepared for illness or injury. Suggestions as to stuff I absolutely should have "just in case".
Thanks

 

[MercyMe03]

If you think the chick might have cocci you have to treat them Corrid. If you treat them get Corid(amprol) and treat all chicks. Dosage is Corid powder - 1/2 tsp per gallon of water, Corid liquid - 2 tsp per gallon of water. Treat for 5 days,do not give vitamins during treatment. Give vitamins after treatment is complete.If you can't get the medecine right now you can give them some vitamins or give them a little bit of sugar in their water and see if that helps perk them up.

 

[dringge]

Back from the farm store. Corid powder mixed and in the waterer. Hopefully it helps. I'm not really sure what the problem is but cocci seemed to be a fit to what I observed. You said to give vitamins after treatment is over. What do I buy for chicken vitamins? There is really a lot to learn here. Hopefully I can figure it all out.
Thanks

 

[MercyMe03]

I use Poly-Vi-Sol (iron free). It's made my enfamil and I get mine at Walgreens. I couldn't find it, but the pharmacist showed me where it was.

I just add it to their water. I started using it again the day after my chicks finished their Corid treatment. Although all of them werent showing signs of the sickness I treated them all and everyone is great now!!

Hope your chick starts feeling better. Let me know how the treatment goes.

 

[Eggcessive]

A little plain yogurt a couple of times a week will also help get their intestines healthy faster. If they don't like it the first time they usually go wild for it after that, and you can smear some in their food. Hope the corid does the trick.

 

[dringge]

How much of the Poly-Vi-Sol do you add to how much water?

 

[MercyMe03]

I have a chick wateter right now which is only a quart i believe. I put a dropper full in and just mix it in the water. Some people will try and give a few drops straight to their chicks, but without mixing it in their water my chicks wouldn't have anything to do with it. The yogurt idea is great as well. I gave them some yogurt while they were still on the Corid. The yogurt will soothe their little stomachs anyways. I also give yogurt to my dogs when they have an upset stomache and it helps them alot to. I gave them just plain yogurt, I had to mix a little bit of their food in with it to get them interested. All it took was for one to taste it and they all went crazy!! They literally dug right in! It was very messy but funny!

 

[dringge]

Thanks. I am going to give it my best shot.

 

[dringge]

An update. I separated my 2 little Ameracaunas out. These 2 are a lot smaller than the BO's they were in with.One of those 2 was the sick chick I was concerned about. The second Am had started to look a bit lethargic and stood around with head down. The BO's were still healthy and active. They are on Corid just in case.
No change in the BO's. The little Am's are starting to look more energetic. They are on Corid, and peace and quiet. In a couple of days Everyone switches over to vitamins and electrolytes. That's when I expect to see the most improvement.

 

[dringge]

I lost the first sick chick today. It was looking so much better and suddenly this morning it looked awful. Watching the second closely. This one seems to be getting better. Both of them would look better one day and then terrible the next but not at the same time. Their timing was staggered. I am completely lost as to the cause. I am very disappointed in what I consider my own failure.