three week old with symptoms of Coccidiosis. Any home treatment until I can get med tomorrow?

[MadAsh]

She has classic symptoms listed for coccidiosis and I can get her medication tomorrow, but the store is already closed tonight. I have fed her water from an oral syringe. She will eat chick feed if I hold her in my hand and put the feed right in front of her. Is there anything I can do for her tonight except hope that she makes it until tomorrow? I have a children's probiotic that I thought about dissolving into water and I also read yogurt might be helpful and sugar water. Will these help until I can pick up the medication? Thanks.

 

[ReLearning2Live]

Do you happen to have any antibiotics laying around? This happened to us and we used children's amoxicillin suspension (just a drop!) to get her through to morning. Then the corid did a great job from there!

We also gave her electrolytes and poultry vitamins to help combat the dehydration.

Best of luck!

 

[MadAsh]

I don't have any antibiotics at all. I'll keep feeding her water every two hours from a dropper. She looks pretty weak and can't walk. She stood up when she heard the other chicks come back into the brooder for the evening, but then laid down again pretty quickly. I have her separated from them, but she can still hear them. The medication I can find is "Sulmet" and not corid. The farm store told me that is what they sell for coccidiosis. Thanks for the information and the well wishes. They are appreciated.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Antibiotic's will do nothing for coccidiosis anyway. Keep her as hydrated at possible, encourage her to eat and get the meds as soon as you can. Yogurt, probiotic's, etc. will help her nutrition but will do nothing for the cocci.

Corid, either liquid or powder, is really the best since it treats more strains of cocci the Sulmet and is much easier on them. But if you can only get Sulmet it's certainly better then nothing. MIght want to consider ordering some Corid to have on hand in case you need it in the future. When you get the meds mixed up dose her directly the first day or so with a dropper or needless syringe, a few times a day to make sure she's getting the meds. Good luck with her.

 

[MadAsh]

I'm giving her 1/2 to 1 cc water every 2 hours. I'll check on her in the middle of the night and give her water when my daughter wakes to nurse also. I don't think she's going to make it through the night. She wouldn't eat a few minutes ago after I gave her water and is pretty lethargic. thanks so much. I can order the corid online to have in the future. Feeling a bit guilty that I chose unmedicated chick feed instead of the medicated.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Yeah, sometimes when they are so sick that you see visible signs it's already to late to save them. They do hide their illness very well. Well I hope she pulls through and you can try treating her. Don't beat yourself up to much, stuff happens to all of us. I lost a great hen a week ago because of something stupid I did. Stuff happens. Good luck.

 

[centrarchid]

Keep bird under heat lamp, even if already weaned of it. Make certain it does not overheat.

 

[MadAsh]

Sadly, she passed away in the middle of the night. My daughters are heartbroken. We are going to get the medicine and treat the other 4 chicks' water to be on the safe side. We shall have a chick funeral this afternoon. Thanks for the wonderful information on this site.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Sorry to hear you lost her. The other's should do fine with a round of treatment, especially if they aren't showing symptoms yet.

 

[leadwolf1]

I'm so sorry for your loss

Ordering the Corid is a good idea. Since Sulmet doesn't treat all strains of Coccidia, you may have to use the Corid even after the Sulmet treatment is finished. I would use the Sulmet until the Corid arrives and then dose them with the Corid for 5 days to make sure that all traces of Coccidiosis is gone.

Give them some probiotics to help restore their normal bacteria load in their intestines. Sulmet is tough on them as is the Coccidia.