What could cause 4 week old chick to crash suddenly?

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mamakat74

mamakat74

In the Brooder
6 Years
Sep 15, 2013
64
6
38
Quad Cities Area, Illinois
A little over a week ago I got two 3 week old chicks from a farm. Both are wyandottes, but different colors. They have been inside, in a brooder, kept separate from a 3rd chick who was a week younger and had wry neck when I got him that same day. He died days ago, but was younger, and weak from the beginning. The other two had been eating and drinking like little pigs, flitting around and basically looking strong and healthy this entire time. Nothing has changed until at some point today I reached in for Gladys, the gold-laced one, and she was very lethargic. I gave her a drop of poly vi sol immediately, and got her to take two sips of water. I called my vet and left a message, but within 15-20 minutes, Gladys just fell over and died.

I am devastated and kind of in shock. And, I am panicky for the remaining chick. Mildred is currently acting normal. But I'm afraid that whatever took Gladys so suddenly could also take Mildred. What could have caused such a sudden and complete crash?

I immediately moved Mildred to a clean brooder with clean bowls and new bedding, by the way, since I have no idea what could have caused this.
 
Coccidiosis is what I worry about with the little ones, but it could be anything. If you can, weigh the one you have left in grams on a kitchen scale. At her age she should be gaining weight daily. Any loss or zero gain is a sign of disease and/or infection.

-Kathy
 
casportpony said:
Coccidiosis is what I worry about with the little ones, but it could be anything. If you can, weigh the one you have left in grams on a kitchen scale. At her age she should be gaining weight daily. Any loss or zero gain is a sign of disease and/or infection.

-Kathy
Click to expand...
x2

I just reach for the Corid at that age if they seem lethargic since it is a risk for them.
 
mamakat74 said:
Where do you get Corid? I don't think I've seen it in the chicken section at Tractor Supply. Do farm stores usually carry it? And is it a chicken-specific medication?
Click to expand...
Corid(amprolium) 9.6% liquid or 20% powder can be purchased at most livestock stores,found in the cattle section. It may or may not be listed for poultry,but it is safe for poultry.
 
For some reason the amprolium (Corid and Amprol) sold in the US is labeled for cattle, but it *is* approved for poultry. Finding properly documented dosing info for poultry was difficult, but I finally found some:

FDA recommendations:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/details.cfm?dn=013-149
"Chickens
Indications: For the treatment of coccidiosis.
Amount: Administer at the 0.012 percent level in drinking water as soon as coccidiosis is diagnosed and continue for 3 to 5 days (in severe outbreaks, give amprolium at the 0.024 percent level); continue with 0.006 percent amprolium-medicated water for an additional 1 to 2 weeks."

From:
http://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/a/amp128.pdf:
Dosage Level Mixing Directions
0.024% Dissolve 8 ounces of AMPROL 128 20% Soluble Powder in about five gallons of water in a 50-gallon medication barrel. Stir, then add water to the 50 gallon mark. Stir thoroughly.
0.012% Follow same directions as above but use 4 ounces of AMPROL 128 20% Soluble Powder.
0.006% Follow same directions as above but use 2 ounces of AMPROL 128 20% Soluble Powder.

And this link has these instructions:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html
"Poultry - as Soon As Caecal Coccidiosis Is Diagnosed, Give 0.024% Amprolium In The Drinking Water For 5 To 7 Days. Continue The Treatment With 0.006% Amprolium Medicated Water For An Additional One To Two Weeks. No Other Source Of Drinking Water Should Be Available To The Birds During This Time."

And this is how much you should give:
The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid or Amprol Powder is 1.5 teaspoons per gallon.
The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid or Amprol liquid is 2 teaspoon per gallon.

The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid or Amprol Powder is 3/4 teaspoon per gallon.
The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid or Amprol liquid is 1 teaspoon per gallon.

The .006% dose for Corid or Amprol Powder is 1/3 teaspoon teaspoon per gallon.
The .006% dose for Corid or Amprol liquid is 1/2 teaspoon teaspoon per gallon.

1/2 teaspoon of 20% powder = 2.8125ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 270mg of amprolium.
3/4 teaspoon of 20% powder = 4.21875ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 405mg of amprolium.
1 teaspoon of 20% powder = 5.625ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 540mg of amprolium.
1.5 teaspoons of 20% powder =8.4375ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 810mg of amprolium.
1.75 teaspoons of 20% powder = 9.84375ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 945mg of amprolium.
2 teaspoons of 20% powder = 11.25ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 1080mg of amprolium.

Amount of Amprolium (Corid or Amprol) liquid per 1/4 teaspoon
​
  • One 1/4 teaspoon = 120 mg
  • 1/2 teaspoon = 240 mg
  • 3/4 teaspoons = 360 mg
  • 1 teaspoon = 480 mg
  • 1 & 1/4 teaspoons = 600 mg
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons = 720 mg
  • 1 & 3/4 teaspoons = 840
  • 2 teaspoons = 960 mg

There are 4.92892ml/teaspoon, but the numbers above were calculated using 5ml/teaspoon.

Here is what's in 1-10ml of the liquid
  • 1ml = 96mg
  • 2ml = 192mg
  • 3ml = 288mg
  • 4ml = 384mg
  • 5ml = 480mg
  • 6ml = 576mg
  • 7ml = 672mg
  • 8ml = 768mg
  • 9ml = 864mg
  • 10ml = 960mg

More info (including the math I did) here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/818879/updated-corid-and-amprol-amprolium-dosing


This is what it looks like:








-Kathy
 
Last edited:

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