Something wrong with my 6 week old Hamburgs, not sure what???

[scoopy82]

2 weeks ago I had one of my SSH chicks become quite ill and subsequently die, I took it to the vet with symptoms such as the inability to grip with its toes and apparent paralysis in its legs, severe weight loss and runny poop with a rather bad smell to it. The vet gave it antibiotics but I think it was already too late. The vet thought it could be Mareks, the chicks temperature was fine, just seemed unable to move and sadly I'm sure the weight loss didn't happen over night, but still quick enough. This deceased chick was in with its 5 other mates all from the same hatch, they were living in my horse float so had never actually been outside on the ground or in contact with my other hens and were raised on medicated chick starter.
Now 2 weeks later I have noticed that the other 5 are quite skinny, I have been told that Hamburgs aren't the plump type of chicken but since the death of the other chick i had changed the others to turkey and meat bird grower with higher protein hoping to give them a boost. And just today i noticed that one of the chicks had a very messy bottom, runny, almost liquid poop collecting on their tail feathers and a little blood staining. I'm VERY worried as these chickens are gorgeous and so super friendly and I dont want to lose another one.
I plan on taking the chick with the messy bottom to a different vet, I'm a little annoyed that the first vet suggested Mareks and didn't do further tests on the first chick, but in the mean time can anyone guess what the problem could be? I am yet to worm them, at this age could worms be the problem? I also plan on treating them and their housing for lice and mites even though i haven't seen any, trying to cover all bases. They all seem to be eating and are alert and active . . . any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Will try to get an appointment with another vet asap.

 

[ve]

De worm them and give them antibiotics

 

[RHRanch]

Could be cocci. I would get them on a coccidiostat asap and take them to the vet or have a dead one necropsied. Birds with cocci can display weakness, lethargy, low body temp, low body weight, faliure to thrive, diarrhea, and bloody stools.

Heres some info I copied from a thread on cocci: There are many forms of Coccidiosis, but two main ones are treated, these are Cecal and Intestinal
Coccidiosis in chickens is caused by seven different species of coccidia (genus Eimeria), which are single celled parasites that live in the gut wall of their host. These coccidia are host specific: turkeys and other species are not infected by fowl coccidia and vice-versa. The different species of coccidia live in different parts of the gut and can be divided into those causing intestinal coccidiosis (the majority) or caecal coccidiosis (one species).

Coccidiosis Cecal Symptoms

In chicks or young birds, droopiness, huddling with ruffled feathers, loss of appetite, retarded growth, and bloody diarrhoea in early stages
It affects their ce***
Mortality is high
Spread from contact with droppings of infected birds. Spread on used equipment, feed sacks, feet o humans and wild birds
An important symptom is blood around the vent or bloody diarrhea
Unfortunately, many different diseases of chickens show identical symptoms which makes accurate diagnosis very difficult

Coccidiosis Intestinal Symptoms

Affects growing or semi mature birds, droopiness, huddling with ruffled feathers, loss in interest in water and feed, retarded growth or weight loss, watery, moucousy, or pasty, tan or blood tinged diarrrhea, sometimes emaciation and dehydration
In mature birds; thin breast, weak legs, drop in laying, sometimes diarrrhea
If affects their intestinal tract
Mortality is limited to high
Spread from droppings of infected birds; spread on used equipment, feed sacks feet of humans and wild birds
An important symptom is blood around the vent or bloody diarrhea
Unfortunately, many different diseases of chickens show identical symptoms which makes accurate diagnosis very difficult

Treatment:
1-teaspoon amprolium (20 percent) per gallon drinking water for 5 days (this is not an antibiotic)
Also a broad spectrum antibiotic to guard against secondary infections, ask your vet what they have available
Following this treatment, give multi vitamin supplement (especially A and K)
Survivors are immune by may never be as productive as uninfected birds

Spread of the disease

Damp or contaminated litter and overcrowding favour its development.
Most commercial chick starters contain a drug that inhibits coccidiosis, however if a clean, dry environment is not maintained then disease can occur. Birds fed diets without preventative drugs are particularly at risk so clean dry litter and adequate space are especially important
If you have soil in your coop it would be advisable to turn it, but don’t allow dust to blow everywhere, as this will spread the disease, if you sprinkle hydrated lime into the soil it will help to eradicated the problem… make sure no lumps are on the floor, use a flour sifter to apply it and then rake it into the dirt

Coccidiosis is spread when one bird eats faecal material from an infected bird, which contains the infective stage of the coccidia (small egg-like bodies called oocysts). The oocysts in the droppings need moisture and warmth to mature before they can infect other birds, but in the right conditions, can do so very quickly (24 hr). Oocysts can remain alive in poultry sheds for more than a year and they are very resistant to most disinfectants.

Oocysts are ingested when birds scratch and peck at the litter or consume contaminated feed or water. Each oocyst breaks down in the gut to release eight organisms that invade the lining of the gut. They then multiply through several cycles to produce thousands of parasites, damaging the gut and causing disease that may lead to the fowl's death.

Beginning five to seven days after infection, thousands of oocysts pass out in the droppings of the bird to continue the life cycle. It is impossible to prevent this spread unless birds are housed so that they have no contact with faeces.

Antibiotics don’t cure Coccidiosis, but it will help to eliminate the possibility of a secondary infection taking hold of your bird, and it is sometimes the secondary infections that end up killing the bird

These are some of the drugs you can use to treat Coccidiosis; it is not a complete list but will give you some ideas on what to ask for at the store when purchasing the medication

Coccidiosis Medication Names
Amprolium Soluble (Thiamine derivates)
Baycox (Toltrazuril)
Corid (Amprolium)
Coxytrol (Sulpha drugs}
Sulfamethazine
Sulfaquin, (Sulpha drugs}
Amprolium (Corid)
Sulmet
Tribrissen (UK)
Sulfaquinoxaline or Sulfamethazine - water or feed; less safe; somewhat toxic to bone marrow. Withdrawal - 10 days
Whitsyn
Renosal Tablets
Bactrim

These drugs, under their trade names are readily available
However, dose rates are variable and complex
Most go into the drinking water
The best advice on treatment is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and if in doubt contact the Department of Agriculture
Baycox is expensive and usually considered to be the last resort used only with severe cases
The program must be followed carefully to obtain the correct results
If you give your birds too much, you will kill any immunity they have obtained

 

[dawg53]

I agree with RHRanch, it could possibly be cocci. Corid would be your best choice as treatment, it kills all 9 types of cocci that chickens can get. Corid can be found in the cattle section at your feed store. I recommend that you switch from the turkey and meat grower feed to UNmedicated chick starter/grower. Sometimes medicated chick feeds can cause diarrhea, unmedicated feed can alleviate that problem. I dont see a need to dust your birds unless they have lice or mites on them. Pick them up and closely visually inspect them for the parasites, especially around the vent area and base of tail feathers.