UPDATE: Couple Issues - Need HELP Please!!

[ChickyCh00k]

I have (10) 4 week old chicks. I noticed a bit of blood in a poop I saw 2 days ago (I wasnt sure if intestinal shedding or possible coccidiosis). Yesterday morning, I saw a "poop" that was ONLY watery blood. I IMMEDIATELY started Corid treatment (2.5 mL in quart size waterers), changed the bedding, and started watching for signs of illness.

Despite seeing the blood, the chicks seemed to be acting normally. I kept a close eye on them yesterday, making sure everyone was drinking the water.

This morning, one of the babies looks strange (pics below). She is keeping her head pulled in and maybe her tail down a bit. Her vent looks clean, but her crop feels hard and knotty. She's not quite as active as the others, but I wouldn't say she's "lethargic" either. They are on hemp bedding and have access to chick grit.

Could she be impacted? If so, how can I treat it on such a little one? Is there something else that I should be watching for?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous @coach723 @dawg53

 

[azygous]

Coccidiosis can be painful, and the chick would be feeling generally sick, as well. Crop issues often accompany other underlying issues, so don't be too concerned about that right now.

You can give the chick the drench dose of Corid once a day for three days. .1ml into the right side of the beak. This will, as it says, drench the chick's intestines with the coccidiostat, and this should speed up the process of knocking back the coccidia and make the chick feel better.

Here is how to give liquids to a chick easily and quickly without risking aspiration.The oral syringe goes directly into the esophagus as seen here.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Thank you, @azygous !

I will give the drench dose and see what happens.

Should I be treating my adult hens for coccidiosis as well, or would they already be immune to the strain of coccidia in my yard?

Thanks again for the response!

 

[azygous]

That's a good question. You have a point about them being resistant. You might just keep a watchful eye and start treatment if you see any sign they could also be infected.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Ok, I will keep an eye on everyone!

The chick in question in the initial post IS eating and drinking (so that makes me feel a little better), and her poop looks pretty normal. I did give her that very tiny "drench" dose as well.

I appreciate you!

 

[ChickyCh00k]

My little baby Peanut seemed to be doing better yesterday (still not 100%, but better than the day before). She was still a little less active than the others but she was eating and drinking, and wasn't holding her head tucked in as much.

I gave her the 3rd "drench" dose a couple hours ago and she immediately became VERY sleepy and she has been sleeping/barely moving since. She did not aspirate the meds or anything, she just became extremely tired (she was not in that state before I gave her the Corid).

I cleaned out the coop and added fresh bedding - she was right outside of the coop, sleeping on a little roost the whole time, and she did not move (while the rest of them were running around going batty).

Any thoughts? I'm feeling very worried that she seems worse so suddenly.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Continued below...

My little baby Peanut seemed to be doing better yesterday (still not 100%, but better than the day before). She was still a little less active than the others but she was eating and drinking, and wasn't holding her head tucked in as much.

I gave her the 3rd "drench" dose a couple hours ago and she immediately became VERY sleepy and she has been sleeping/barely moving since. She did not aspirate the meds or anything, she just became extremely tired (she was not in that state before I gave her the Corid).

I cleaned out the coop and added fresh bedding - she was right outside of the coop, sleeping on a little roost the whole time, and she did not move (while the rest of them were running around going batty).

Any thoughts? I'm feeling very worried that she seems worse so suddenly.

@azygous

I gave her some sugar water with a pinch of salt and baking soda (she drank maybe about 8cc total) and I gave her some egg yolk (she ate a few drops).

Then, she went back to the corner of the coop and laid down. I'm afraid she isn't going to make it and I don't know what else to do or what caused her sudden decline. I feel terrible.

 

[azygous]

I'm sorry, I've been gone all day, just getting on the forum. The third drench dose was likely just coincidental to the chick suffering a setback.

The glucose booster ration is one cup water, one teaspoon sugar and just a tiny pinch of salt and baking soda. This is a balanced solution with the proper minerals to stabilize a sick chicken. Give enough by oral syringe to moderately fill her crop. Until the chick recovers her appetite, this solution should keep her going.

Next warm some small towels and wrap the chick in them. This can supply the missing ingredient to revive the chick.

What does her poop look like? Any ruby colored blood or orange intestinal lining in it? If so, the chick may need an antibiotic for enteritis, infection in her intestines.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I'm sorry, I've been gone all day, just getting on the forum. The third drench dose was likely just coincidental to the chick suffering a setback.

The glucose booster ration is one cup water, one teaspoon sugar and just a tiny pinch of salt and baking soda. This is a balanced solution with the proper minerals to stabilize a sick chicken. Give enough by oral syringe to moderately fill her crop. Until the chick recovers her appetite, this solution should keep her going.

Next warm some small towels and wrap the chick in them. This can supply the missing ingredient to revive the chick.

What does her poop look like? Any ruby colored blood or orange intestinal lining in it? If so, the chick may need an antibiotic for enteritis, infection in her intestines.

I figured you were busy! I'm just so stressed.

Her poop is tiny (like a drop) and watery/mucous, but I did not see blood. Yesterday, she had normal poop.

I gave her the glucose solution you suggested about 7pm (I found the recipe on another thread). She would drink it from a syringe and I probably got a teaspoon maybe 2 (at least 5+ cc). And she ate a few droplets of egg yolk at that time as well. She is sleeping now, but should I be waking her to force more fluids?

Thank you for the response at this late hour. I am really hoping she pulls through. I looked at camera footage from this morning (before the Corid drench) and she was acting quite normally, even jumping up onto the roost I added to the coop this week. The decline in her recovery was just so immediate and bewildering.

 

[azygous]

Yes, push the solution every hour until she revives. The poop may indicate she's dehydrated. This is a life saving solution. It and warming her are the two most important things you need to do tonight to stabilize her. Don't worry about food right now.