what am I doing wrong

[hunterblu123]

We got 150 chickens from Mt. Healthy Sunday so far we have lost 25. I have 2 lights on them the temp under the lights is around 90 degrees. I do see a little blood in so of there poop. They are eating medicated chick starter. They are not laying on each other or under the light. They are getting this in their water

 

[chickendude]

I'm not familiar with that product. Are you using the correct amount for chicks, is it even safe for use on chicks?

 

[Ariel301]

Blood in the poop could be coccidiosis, which is SUPPOSED to be controlled by the medicated feed.

 

[The Lisser]

Do any of them have poop stuck to their vents? If so they can't poop and it will kill them. Every time I've gotten chicks or hatched them I always have a few get this (I've never had 150 at a time!)

I would offer them plain water as well as the electrolytes. Are they eating and drinking? Are they running around? Are any of them panting (mouth open)?

I have never had them with blood in their poop - so I can't help you there. Sounds like coccidiosis but you are giving the medicated feed. Maybe try a new bag of feed?

Good luck. I hope you don't lose any more.

 

[hunterblu123]

No poop stuck to them. I had that happen last time. The only one's kinda doing a open mouth thing are the one not doing good. The others look good eating, drinking and running around. are they born with coccidia?

 

[Judy]

I would stop the vitamin/electrolyte solution, too, or recheck the dose at least. The vitamins and electrolytes they need should be in the feed.

You should see poop that looks a little bloody. It's cecal poop. I'll give you a link to a poop chart (warning, lots of pics of poop.) Cocci are in the soil so if these chicks are in a brooder in your house, it's nearly impossible for that to be the problem. If they are on soil, though, that could be the problem. If you think they have cocci, pick up some Corid at the feed store for them. It's amprolium, probably the same thing your medicated feed is medicated with, but a much higher concentration.

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

There are some other possibilities, so of course, the ideal thing would be take a few to the vet, but I quite understand if this is not possible. Keep us posted. Sorry you are going through this.

Have you talked to anyone at Mt. Healthy?

 

[wbruder17]

I would also question Mt. Healthy about the actuall healthiness of their chicks. What were the conditions at the store? Do they have a guarantee?

 

[hunterblu123]

They have never been on soil. I will stop the vitamin/electrolyte solution and see.

Have you talked to anyone at Mt. Healthy?

No not yet. We lost a lot of cornish last year some issue and from Mt. Healthy but we did not use the vitamin/electrolyte solution. In July we had no trouble with 50 sale barn chicks, Sept we had no trouble with 50 feed store chicks pullets.​

 

[hunterblu123]

Just sitting there watching the chicks, some are just sit there gulping air? at least that's what it looks like. I'm sure I will loose another 5 by tomorrow. All the other chicks are eating, drinking, grooming them self's and running around.

What is the mortality rate of chicks?

 

[StormyMoon]

I would take the ones acting like they have respiratory problems away from the healthy chicks. I have seen that before it spreads slowly chick by chick.

There is almost nothing that can be done to recover other than to remove only the remaining affected chicks away from the healthy.
I would separate them for a while if things get better great , if not then you know you have taken all the affected ones away and shouldn't see this in any more of them. The only thing you can do is try the best you can do.