Two dead chicks in brooder pen

[redinator]

If one were so inclined, did a bit of research/reading, they can certainly find a lot of information about Bacitracin, and it's use in poultry feed.

It can also be used to help prevent Coccidiosis, but my understanding is the certain strains may not be as affected by Bacitracin as others. There are 9 strains of Coccidia which is a Protozoa (not a bacteria) that is found in poop and in soil.

This makes me think it'd be best to give the Corid at the preventative dose along with the medicated feed that contains Bacitracin to cast a wider net, so to speak.

In the lower section of the article posted it mentions concerns of causing antibiotic resistance and affecting gut health. I can only assume using up the one bag wouldn't cause too much of a concern, but I certainly won't be buying it again. I just didn't realize there were different additives in medicated feed, so I didn't know to look for anything in particular.

The only things I've used so far (and have on hand) are Nutri Drench when I had really sick chicks after a hard hatch. Sav-A-Chick electrolytes and Sav-A-Chick Probiotics to give them a boost a few days before going outdoors. I've also used egg yolk when I needed to use an eyedropper because a chick refused to eat. Aside from that this is new territory.

This is the first time I've had sick chick(en)s after putting them outside, but it seems my stream of beginner's/dumb luck has run out.

Another vitamin/supplement I keep seeing mentioned in other threads is Poultry Cell, but I believe it contains thiamine (B1) so in this instance (coccidiosis) it would do more harm than good. Is there another multivitamin that would be safe to give them to help them recover?

It's hard to look up the information myself when 4 chicks passed in two days and I end up with information overload. Thankfully they're all are doing well now and going bonkers in the brooder. They'll be going back outside today, so I want to make sure they don't get sick again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This makes me think it'd be best to give the Corid at the preventative dose along with the medicated feed that contains Bacitracin to cast a wider net, so to speak.

In the lower section of the article posted it mentions concerns of causing antibiotic resistance and affecting gut health. I can only assume using up the one bag wouldn't cause too much of a concern, but I certainly won't be buying it again.

Another vitamin/supplement I keep seeing mentioned in other threads is Poultry Cell, but I believe it contains thiamine (B1) so in this instance (coccidiosis) it would do more harm than good. Is there another multivitamin that would be safe to give them to help them recover?

I'm glad they are doing much better and you have not had anymore losses.

No, if you are going to Treat for Coccidiosis, you want to give the Severe dosing of Amprolium (Corid). As mentioned, Amprolium is a Coccidiostat and not an antibiotic.

Finish the course of Corid at 7 days, then give the chicks plain fresh water for a few days.

After that you can add a basic poultry vitamin like Poultry Cell or Poultry Nutri-Drench to their water 2X a week for a couple of times a week. Be sure to provide Plain Fresh Water in addition to the water with the vitamins. Often birds will not drink vitamin water and you certainly don't want them to get dehydrated.

Most poultry vitamins are very similar. Poultry Cell has a wider variety of vitamins/minerals than Poultry Nutri-Drench, do a comparison of ingredients.

 

[redinator]

I'm glad they are doing much better and you have not had anymore losses.

No, if you are going to Treat for Coccidiosis, you want to give the Severe dosing of Amprolium (Corid). As mentioned, Amprolium is a Coccidiostat and not an antibiotic.

Finish the course of Corid at 7 days, then give the chicks plain fresh water for a few days.

After that you can add a basic poultry vitamin like Poultry Cell or Poultry Nutri-Drench to their water 2X a week for a couple of times a week. Be sure to provide Plain Fresh Water in addition to the water with the vitamins. Often birds will not drink vitamin water and you certainly don't want them to get dehydrated.

Most poultry vitamins are very similar. Poultry Cell has a wider variety of vitamins/minerals than Poultry Nutri-Drench, do a comparison of ingredients.

Yesterday was the 5th day of the "Treatment" as per the instructions on the bottle.

After a bit of running around this morning I managed to find 2 small bags (15lb ea) of medicated chick starter w the Amprolium in it. I found it at PetCo of all places. The local feed store only had the medicated feed w Bacitracin in it idunno), and Tractor Supply always seems to be out of stuff I need in a hurry.

I have a larger (50lb) of medicated chick feed ordered, but it won't arrive until middle of next week. Hopefully the 30lbs will be enough until it gets here. (they waste more than they eat)

So now I believe the plan is: plain water w the medicated chick feed w Amprolium, right?

If the little buggers weren't so fluffin cute; and the help and support I get on this site I would've given up when some of my first batch of hatched chicks failed-to-thrive.

Times like this Thank You, doesn't really seem to quite express how grateful I am for the knowledge and support I get from this community. There is no other one like it!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry for your loss. Did you see any pasty butt in any dead chicks? I would treat them with Corid in case there is coccidiosis going around. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid Corid or 1 1/2 tsp of the powder per gallon of water as the only source for 5 days. You can divide it into your 3 waterers if perferred. Symptoms of coccidiosis are weakness, lethargic or sleepy behavior, not eating, standing around hunched or puffed up, and runny or watery poops, sometimes with blood. Make sure their bedding is clean and dry.

Hopefully you followed the dosing instructions given to you on the first page at Post#4.

It would be up to you to determine if you want to continue to feed a medicated feed or not, it shouldn't hurt them.

Yesterday was the 5th day of the "Treatment" as per the instructions on the bottle.

 

[redinator]

Hopefully you followed the dosing instructions given to you on the first page at Post#4.

It would be up to you to determine if you want to continue to feed a medicated feed or not, it shouldn't hurt them.

I did, the confusion set in when it was determined that I had the wrong type of medicated feed to give them after the 5 day Corid treatment. Thanks for pointing that out and helping get that sorted.

Now that I have right type of medicated feed I'm back on track.

 

[LaFleche]

I have two of these end to end: https://a.co/d/32kdUHY and the doghouse at one end as a chick coop until they're integrated. I take it apart and set it up as needed.

The dog house looks rather small for 29 four-to-five weeks old chicks that will all huddle together and on top of each other thus possibly suffocating the ones underneath as they cannot get away.
At least that is what I suspect happened.

I would install a little roost to get them off the floor thus preventing more possible suffocation.

 

[redinator]

The dog house looks rather small for 29 four-to-five weeks old chicks that will all huddle together and on top of each other thus possibly suffocating the ones underneath as they cannot get away.
At least that is what I suspect happened.

I would install a little roost to get them off the floor thus preventing more possible suffocation.

It was coccidia, determined by bloody stools I saw once I brought them inside for the Corid treatment.

I did however leave a bit of gap in the roof for better airflow. The whole setup is under a covered run, so I'm not too concerned with rain getting in. Adding a few perches on either side and along the back wouldn't be a bad idea, though. If they hadn't gotten sick they would probably be moving out of the chick enclosure by now.

I'm in the process of setting up a larger (10x25 ft) run for the older chickens (4 and 6 months old) once that's built the 4 and 5 weeks olds will have the smaller run 9x18ft full time, until they're ready to integrate then I decide which I'm selling and which I'm keeping.

Tending to the sick chicks and having to bring them back in set me back a week or two, since I have to restart the integration process. The older chickens had just gotten to a point where they weren't paying any attention to the chicks before the chicks got sick. That's just how things go in life, in general, but especially when dealing with animals.

ETA: When I moved the entire run it also got moved to a shadier part of the yard.

 

[LaFleche]

It was coccidia, determined by bloody stools I saw once I brought them inside for the Corid treatment.

Good to know what you are up against, so watch carefully to see if Corid will be enough and maybe switch to a sulfa drug in case they don't perk up after the second day of treatment.