Two dead chicks - now what?!

[EggieRowe]

From what I just read, the only problem with giving medicated feed is it cancels out the vaccine or whatever the hatchery does. I went ahead and put the Corid in their waterer. I wanted to avoid giving them any medication, but of course that was before they were dying. . There's a third Delaware looking puffy and lethargic, but its been drinking the treated water on its own and is still steady on its feet. Weird thing is my Delaware chicks were the most vigorous of the assorted bunch.

 

[leadwolf1]

I guess that it won't hurt, then. Have these chicks been outside? If babies get chilled they sometimes die due to the chilling and nothing else. I hope the rest continue to do well.

 

[EggieRowe]

Chicks have never set foot on soil, but their brooder was a coop in a former life. I thoroughly disinfected with Tektrol, but maybe some germs survived. I suspect the sudden drop in temps yesterday made them susceptible to whatever - I feel terrible. Reading that the cocci vaccine only covers some strains, so it could still be the cause too.

Thanks for all the advice and well wishes everyone. I guess I'll have to wait and see in the morning. If anymore pass I think I may have a necropsy performed.

 

[EggieRowe]

Third sick chick now, but a Black Australorp. Ruins my theory that maybe the Delawares had a genetic fault and my hope it was something not contagious. Turned my desk drawer at work into a chick sick bay. This one seems to be a little perkier than the one from last night - fights me harder to drink out of the syringe. Rest of the chicks look okay, but that's what I thought each time yesterday. I just don't understand how they got so sick so suddenly. This is my first time with chicks, so totally in uncharted waters. After watching the one last night go through death throes, I wonder if it wouldn't have been kinder to cull it? This one is getting restless like the one yesterday was an hour or so before it died.

 

[leadwolf1]

If the Corid isn't helping by now, it isn't Coccidiosis..they normally bounce back right away once Corid is introduced. I'm sorry but, I think that your chicks got chilled and they are succombing to that. Any noisy breathing? Any discharge? What does the dropping look like?

 

[ChickSter99]

I'm so sorry. I think the same thing about chilling. Seeing them have to suffer is awful. I know, I had to go through that about two weeks ago. Hubby takes care of the culling because I can only cry. Of course he was out of town. When it comes to animals & children, my heart is extremely tender.

 

[EggieRowe]

The fresh ones were normal this morning. There were some watery ones yesterday. When the chick last night died it spit up pinkish clear slime. The one this morning also spit up some clear slime when it passed. No wheezing, sneezing, or other symptoms to suggest a respiratory infection. I called the Clemson Livestock lab this morning and the doctor told me its most likely coccidiosis and a) I'm crowding them, b) the source of infection was probably the cocci vaccine itself, and c) give the Corid 2-3 days to work. Also that I shouldn't have had them vaccinated for Marek's if I didn't have an existing problem - I've turned them all into carriers now. And she was surprised the hatcheries were even offering Cocci vaccine to non-commerical buyers.

The thing that gets me is that my mom used to raise more of them in closer confines with no vaccines and no medicated feed. She rarely lost one after the first couple days, and then it was usually from the others picking. She laughed when she saw I had the brooder indoors and how large it was - 24 sq ft. I ordered 25 w/the expectation that some wouldn't arrive safely and not realizing they would put 3 extras in. I feel terrible and stupid now all at the same time. Got a feeble looking Minorca chick now. Guess whatever it is will just run its course and I'll move on from there. If I'm still losing them in 2 days, I'll send one in for testing. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[leadwolf1]

I'm sorry but, that woman is incorrect. The Marek's vaccine does not turn the birds into carriers. If that were true, all mixed flocks would be coming down with Marek's. My daughter has both vaccinated and non-vaccinated birds in her flock and has not lost a one. Trust me when I tell you, it is misconceptions and misknowledge like that that is turning Marek's into a nightmare. Marek's is everywhere. All you need do is look at the threads on here to know that Marek's is making a huge comeback.

I have lost 40+ birds to Marek's in the last year..if I had it to do over again, I would never have purchased a bird that wasn't vaccinated and, I would never have purchased live birds from anyone..no matter how reputible they seemed to be.

 

[ChickSter99]

I'm sorry but, that woman is incorrect. The Marek's vaccine does not turn the birds into carriers. If that were true, all mixed flocks would be coming down with Marek's. My daughter has both vaccinated and non-vaccinated birds in her flock and has not lost a one. Trust me when I tell you, it is misconceptions and misknowledge like that that is turning Marek's into a nightmare. Marek's is everywhere. All you need do is look at the threads on here to know that Marek's is making a huge comeback.

I have lost 40+ birds to Marek's in the last year..if I had it to do over again, I would never have purchased a bird that wasn't vaccinated and, I would never have purchased live birds from anyone..no matter how reputible they seemed to be.

Thanks for clearing that up about the Marek's. That scared me when I read that they had told EggieRowe that because I have both vaccinated and non-vaccinated. I had done my research. I chose to vaccinate from the hatchery the first time. I hatched my own eggs the second time from eggs that we bought and chose not to vaccinate. Everyone is doing wonderful (going on 3 weeks).

EggieRowe, I'm really sorry that you are having to go through this. I'm not very experienced with the chicken stuff, but I'm learning. I just started raising them this year. I've read everything I can get my hands on and following this site like crazy when it concerns chickens or ducks. leadwolf1 is giving you some great advice.

 

[EggieRowe]

I should add that the doctor told me the vaccinated chickens would only 'shed' the Marek's if stressed and non-vaccinated chickens could be susceptible if they were around them. So maybe its like a person getting shingles after the chicken pox, not common, but possible under extreme stress or advanced age?