Urgent Help Needed

[crazyelk]

I have a sick Black Copper Maran chick, about 6 weeks old - has isolated itself and ruffled feathers, one eye closed and does not move or respond. No discharge in the nostrils or eyes. Have given it a little bit of gatorade, what could it be and what else can I do?

 

[ArizonaNessa]

I really don't know exactly what is wrong with your little friend but if I had to guess I would say cocci. If you hurry you can get something called Corid at the local feed supply and mix it by the directions on the bottle. I had some chicks that showed these same symptoms and I treated for coccidiosis and they all got better. Again I am not saying that is what this is. I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but that is my guess. If you can't find Corid then you can use something called Sulmet but sulmet does not cover all the things that cause cocci. Corid does or at least that is what was explained to me. Good Luck with your friend.

 

[jenni2142]

how does the poo look? Is the feed medicated? Any other chicks showing any symptoms? It seems that when they are ill at this age is is most often Cocci. I wish I were more of an expert, hopefully one will pop in shortly. Your poor baby looks very ill and I hope you are able to help it.

 

[jenni2142]

Posted at same time. Corid covers all strains of Cocci and is gentler on them, Sulmet is much easier to find and works on all but one(I think). I just treated my 13 weeks old for it and used Sulmet. I didn't have time to wait for Corid, still lost 2 with treatment started within hours of first symptom.

 

[gumpsgirl]

It looks to me like it could have possibly gotten into some moldy feed. The ruffled feathers and going into isolation like that fits the bill.

Is there any way it could have possibly gotten into feed that has been wet? It doesn't take long for feed that gets wet to mold.

 

[crazyelk]

Can't get anything at the store until tomorrow, anything I may be able to do tonight ? Thank you!

 

[crazyelk]

Wet feed is a possibility - we have had alot of rain recently. What can you do to treat this? No other chicks are showing these symptoms. Thanks.

 

[jenni2142]

I am sorry but I have not found anything that can be done other than meds. You should reduce protein, I fed mine a mixture of baby rice cereal(powdered oatmeal can be used), applesauce with no added sugar(or maybe yogurt), and a little starter. The Cocci feed on protein so maybe that will buy you a little time.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

This is part of a conversation I had with speckledhen on the subject of cocci. I hope this helps a little. And thank you speckledhen for the awesome info during my troubles.

"The oocycsts that cause cocci are in the soil. There are nine types and the chicks have to develop immunity to them. If they overwhelm their systems, that's when you get cocci. Sulmet will not touch one type of cocci, called eimeria tenella, which is why I use Corid now rather than Sulmet. I think that is what is in my soil. And your soil will have certain types, and the birds could become immune to them, but then, someone could walk in another type on their dirty shoes and your birds could come down with cocci because their bodies haven't developed immunity to the new type."

 

[jenni2142]

Maybe a search on moldy feed. I thought I read something about a molasses flush and vitamins.