Sudden death in peachicks

[laurencia98]

Friday evening, I bought 6 peachicks from a local breeder. By Monday morning, they started to exhibit strange symptoms. When they died, their necks twisted and jerked. They had seizure like symptoms. I've lost 4 in the last 24 hours. My brooder is in my house, immaculately clean, and at the correct temperature. There's no chance they got into poison, and cocci is out of the question on my end (I have no idea about the breeder, he did have them with chicks).

There is obviously a problem with these chicks that I didn't cause, and the breeder won't help me come up with an explaination or offer any kind of a refund, exchange.

I currently have 2 left. Does anyone have any theories of what is going on? I'm out a lot of money, plus the heartache of seeing the birds die in such a horrible way. I'd like to do something to try to save them. I've started them on antibiotics, and electrolytes.

Just goes to show there are a lot of unethical people out there who will give you unhealthy birds and not even help you get to the bottom of what's wrong.

I'm new to the board, btw. Sorry to have to come on with such a negative post!

L.

 

[jimmythechicken]

i would try putting corid in the water we had kind of the same thing happen bought 5 peachicks an they all started to die the great people here told us to try corid an it worked but 4 had already died but we still have 1 saved.goodluck.an i have learned not to buy peachicks from anyone who does not let me check out there farm.

 

[deerman]

how old were they when you got them....type of feed then were on and what are you feeding them.

Did they have them on wire bottem brooders. Seen alot of people who sell them that first month, were they have been with chicken and on the ground. Takes a few weeks before they will die from cocci and etc.

Could be from the way they had been started.....feed them a medicated starter.

I believe in prevention....lot easier than trying to cure them later...

 

[laurencia98]

I will try the corid if I can get to the store in time. They were given a medicated feed on my end. Like I said, when you don't truly know all the details of the bird's past, it can be frustrating to even know what you are trying to treat. I've never lost a bird to cocci. I don't think I've ever had it in my flock, and i have a lot of birds. Even so, it usually takes about a week to kill. Has anyone ever had a bird to be "fine" and die of cocci literally a few minutes later? What about Merick's Disease in peafowl?

L.

 

[laurencia98]

About the age, they were a mixed bunch ages 1 week to 3 weeks.

Thanks,

L.

 

[deerman]

At that age dont think they would have die from cocci. unless the 3 week old was only ones dying. take a few weeks to get a build up of cocci to kill them.

cocci is in most ground , even if the birds are not dying. adults can fight it off, were young peachicks can't, one reason I dont put them on the ground first few months.

People selling young peachick ,may not even know their birds have cocci.

I never sell birds less than a month old, and most after 3 months. Then I don't worry about them being place on the ground.

 

[laurencia98]

I've got them on corid right now, and will be worming my adults with ivermectin. The cocci had to come from the breeder, probably couldn't kill them 24 hours after infection if it had been from me. I still have the 2, but one is a bit weak. He's drinking the corid mixture though, so maybe it will be in time. The droppings in the small one are still "foamy" but just started the treatment this morning. The birds never were especially active. I've only had experience with yearling/adult peafowl, so what is the normal activity level of chicks? Most people describe theirs as having so much personality, but these are really quite droopy--even from the beginning.

L.