At the moment, yes, all the other chicks are just fine, although they are all going to get a dose of Sulmet. Even my idiot dog is getting treated as she likes to eat the chicken poop. BLAH!
Yes it is! That's why I'm not understanding why one would want to overdose them!
It needs to be used in correlation with another antibiotic. Too bad there's not another coccidiastat. I'm thinking the drug in the grower feed would be adequate as a combination. But I'd hate to screw up your feeding regime.
As for hen poo...
There are SEVERAL things that the hen could have picked up that the chicks are not prepared to take on. I would NOT do that method. That hen could be a carrier of Marek's, Cholera, all sorts of things!
1. Apparently the amount in the feed is not enough to prevent. It SHOULD keep the birds healthy, but giving MORE will not help at the moment. It could completely ruin the chicks digestive tract by giving more than the recommended dosage.
2. Antibiotics upset the natural flora in the gut and surrounding tissues. Why would it not help get rid of the cocci in the gut?
3. A hen, any old hen, could have all sorts of diseases that pass horizontally rather than vertically. Why give a chick the same disease that your hen could have? It makes absolutely NO sense to me.
However, if you're stating that coccidiostats are NOT indeed antibiotics, I retract my position. I am lumping coccidiostats with antibiotics, however if you'd like me to use the two terms separately I will do so.
Can you show me your proof that poo from a hen will cause the offspring to live a stronger and healthier life?