sick chicks

[flocksalot]

Hi,

I'm new here but am not new to chickens by a long shot. I purchased some chicks from a very reputable place and had them vaccinated for coccidiosis along with Mareks. They were three weeks old yesterday. Yesterday morning I awoke to 7 dead and 5 looking droopy. The rest seemed fine, but as I observed they were having bloody droppings. They were kept in a large plastic container in my house until they could be put out in the greenhouse. Well I ended up moving them immediately out to the greenhouse as I also have parrots and couldn't risk their lives. The chicks had been knocking their water over, but when I would discover it I always changed out their litter. I constantley cleaned out their water from all the stuff they scratched into it and I changed their litter every other day at first and as they got older and stinkier I changed it every day. My question is could they have gotten cocci even though they were all vaccinated for it or what could this be? I've now lost eleven of the original 25 and as of this evening they seem to be eating again. It literally came on overnight! The chicks were fine scratching, jumping, running, and eating. And then they weren't. I've watched them poop out the blood, but non of them had bloody vents. The remaining chicks are doing better tonight. There are two that I am still watching for now. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Ok so here's the update. I lost a total of 11 chicks.

We broke down and bought a coccidiostat and after one dose they greatly improved.

I called the hatchery back on Monday and they are replacing all 25 chicks. I knew they would as they have always taken very good care of me and my family, but I would have been happy with just the eleven. They are just the best! Anyway, the rest are crazy happy chicks again. Running and jumping and scatching and being ow so very cute. I'm so glad I bought the cocci medicine! Sometimes the vaccine just doesn't take I guess. In May when I get my 50 meat chickens I will also get 25 new rainbow layers. I'm also scheduled to get 25 turkeys, 6 ducks, and 4 geese. I'm going to be over run with cuteness. Then in June we get 25 more little rainbow fuzzballs. I figured I would loose all and was going to replace. My 7 year old the chicken farmer says he is gonn have chickens coming out of "you know where."

I guess we will eventually be able to keep up with the egg demand. At least I hope so.

 

[Cat Water]

I didn't know you could vaccinate for cocci. Are the chicks inside, or on dirt?

 

[toysmom]

My chicks are 4 weeks old now and I had them vacinated for cocci. I have not had any problems. This was the first time that I had ordered chicks so I read as much as I could. I read that when you vacinate for cocci, do not feed with medicated feed. If you have fed with medicated feed, that is probably what happened. Hope the rest do ok

 

[flocksalot]

Quote:
As long as I can remember......which is way back.........hatcheries have offered this treatment so you don't have to feed medicated feed. I prefere to have them vacinated and have never had this problem before. I've not had a chicken die from anything like this in years.....like twenty or so. Which leaves me totally confused. Any other ideas would be helpful. Thanks

 

[flocksalot]

Quote:
We never feed medicated feed as I have them vacinated. The only thing I did different this time is use a large rubbermaid container instead of the brooder. We sold our house and when we moved my husband lost some pieces to it. I did dry the container out when they got their litter wet, but maybe not good enough. I'm really concerned. They are fine until they get droopy and die with in hours, not droopy for days like I should have seen with cocci.

So far no more losses, but I'm watching them for anything. We were told by the hatchery that they were deffinantely treated, so any other ideas?

 

[lady feathers]

I don't think the rubbermaid container is what did it.... my chicks were started in there for the first few weeks before they outgrew it. As long as there is enough room and you turn up the shaving/change out the bedding to keep it all loose and dry it should work just fine. You'd think if it was an adverse reaction to the vaccination it would have happened much sooner.... ???I'm not really sure what's going on with your little ones??? Perhaps (since you bought form a reputable source) you could call them and let them know what happened they may have recieved calls from others who go chicks from the same batch? Might have some insight.... not sure if they would replace but it's worth a shot!

 

[flocksalot]

Quote:
I did contact the hatchery on Friday after I had moved the chicks out to the greenhouse. The owner was contacted for advice. He said to change the bedding (which I had regularly did) and to let them know on Mon how things are going. They will replace the chicks as I'm a long standing regular customer, but I hate to have this happen. I did run and get a coccidiostat last night and they seem much better today. Only one appears to have any blood in her poo and it's no where near the blood clots that were going on yesterday and friday. I did have one loss on the second day, but I assumed they had all sat on her. She had been eating and drinking fine. I took a shower and she was dead, but that was three weeks ago. They had been growing like weeds and eating up a storm until friday morning. It's a bummer for my little guy as all the chickens (85) are his

According to him he is gonna be a chicken farmer. And no he didn't give them something. He is very well versed on chickens/turkeys/parrots. Anyone coming to our farm will see him carrying around one of his hens. They particularly like to sit and watch him swing.

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Is it possible that the vaccination was too "strong" and your chicks have cocci?

 

[flocksalot]

Quote:
The chicks were in a rubbermaid container on pine shavings. I replaced them often as they get a bit stinky as they get older. I change my parrots papers daily so it was no big deal. The hardest part was catching them to transfere over from one container to the next and back again. Now they are in a wooden crate with pine shavings, but put into the greenhouse for now. I was going to let them run around in the greenhouse soon, but may wait until I know they are doing ok.

 

[flocksalot]

Quote:
I have no idea, but I broke down last night and bought a coccidiastat (med to treat) they seem better today. The only thing I could think of was cocci, and being vacinated they should not have gotten it. I'll talk to the hatchery tomorrow, but I think they are as confused as me. I hope the rest of them survive.