Sick chicks

[coatsra]

Good afternoon!

I recently bought chicks from a local hatchery. One died the next day, its bottom looked really bad. A few days later one started hunching over with drooped feathers and died. Now, today one died quickly with the same thing. It’s been awful. My heat lamp is good and enough room in the brooder with clean water and feed. I have never had this happen before and read about coccidiosis and marek’s. I have a feeling it maybe coccidiosis because of the original chicks bottom. I ran to the feed store and got Corid. Does anyone know if this will hurt them even if it’s not? I don’t know what to do. I feel like a failure.

Thank you for your time

 

[thecatumbrella]

You mentioned their bottoms. Are they getting pasty butt? If poop sticks to the feathers around their vent and blocks it, they will die. I have an article here, and if you scroll to the bottom, you'll see some links with photos of what pasty butt can look like.

Can you also post a photo of your brooder setup? Chicks can get overheated in a small space with a heat lamp, which contributes to pasty butt/lethargy/etc.

Corid will not hurt them, but if they're on medicated feed, you'll need to stop feeding that and switch to unmedicated. Did you purchase liquid Corid or the powder? The dosages differ for each.

 

[coatsra]

Thank you so much to take the time out to reply. So, the original chick who died.. I came home and cleaned him after picking up the chicks; but it was almost like it was infected, very swollen and large on his bottom. She said it looked like he had some pasty butt when she was boxing them.. I’m assuming he had it for a long time. I’ve had pasty butt chicks before, but not to that extreme. The other chicks bottoms look good. The other two who died had no signs of it.

They just would get very sluggish for a bit… then close their eyes, droop their feathers, hunch and die. I did notice dark, tarry droppings.

I’ll take a picture of my brooder and post when I get home this evening.

Also, I picked up the liquid form, of it. 9.6% oral solution. Do you know how much we should mix with a quart of water?

Thank you again for your help.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I’ll take a picture of my brooder and post when I get home this evening.

That would be great. Sometimes people will catch things you wouldn't think of. Pictures of any sore behinds would be helpful as well.

Also, I picked up the liquid form, of it. 9.6% oral solution. Do you know how much we should mix with a quart of water?

Liquid dose is 1/2 teaspoon (2.5mL) per quart of water. Make a fresh batch every day, and give for at least 5 days as the sole water source for the entire group.

I'm so sorry you're losing chicks. Hopefully we can get it figured out.

 

[coatsra]

That would be great. Sometimes people will catch things you wouldn't think of. Pictures of any sore behinds would be helpful as well.

Liquid dose is 1/2 teaspoon (2.5mL) per quart of water. Make a fresh batch every day, and give for at least 5 days as the sole water source for the entire group.

I'm so sorry you're losing chicks. Hopefully we can get it figured out.

Thank you for your kindness! It really means a lot. Im paranoid now every time I check on them. I was able to get a picture before I left. So; I have the heat lamp clamped to the wire on top. I have it covered with a makeshift wiring just because we have cats that may sometimes come in and out. Food and waterer are away from light. Is this too close and too hot maybe? Any help is welcome!

Also I got them started on the corid now. All seem to be drinking okay for now and eating.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Food and waterer are away from light. Is this too close and too hot maybe? Any help is welcome!

Do you have a means to measure the temp at their level? I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be between 90-95 for their first week, then lowered 5 degrees each week after. Food and water area should be at room temp, which allows them to cool off.

I'm going to tag someone who's probably seen it all with chicks, and who also uses a heat lamp: @Debbie292d

Sorry I can't help more than this. The dark tarry stools are concerning, so I'm glad you got them started on Corid. If there's something else going on, Debbie should be able to get you sorted!