Young chickens dying fast. Here are the symptoms. Can anyone help?

[ecojoe69]

History: Bought an assortment from many different people at a chick swap about 2 months ago. All kinds of breeds mixed together. All the same age.

Starting a few weeks ago, some of them started to get lethargic and then within a few days they die. Before they die, they get incredibly weak and their legs don't seem to work. When they are dead, they have almost NO muscle tone. A few have been pulling out their feathers and their skin seems a bit dry and rought in the denuded area.

I HAVE checked them for lice and there seems to be none. I have given them a dust bath with DE and the poultry dusting powder mixed together.

They are still dying one at a time, slowly. Is this mites? How would I know? Is it.... marecks? Worried it might be that since they were likely not innoculated and purchased at a swap meet.

I have recently wormed them with Wazzine ( how many days do you worm? They bottle doesn't say) AND am giving them a course of Sulmet for a week in case its something bacterial.

Help?

 

[leadwolf1]

My first course of treatment in young birds would be with Corid in case of Coccidiosis. This is the biggest/quickest killer of young chicks.

I think that the antibiotic and the deworming medication is too much to give at the same time. It is medication overload. Are they all standing around poofed up?

My first thought is coccidiosis. How old would you say the birds were when you got them?

 

[spatulagirl]

I would treat with Corid too.

And man, I know the feeling of grasping at straws trying to stop chicks from dying. Going through that myself right now.

 

[ecojoe69]

I will try treating them with the Corid you suggest. Can it be purchased at Farm and Fleet? They were likely just a few days old when I got them at the swap meet but they are now about 2 months. How long is Coccid. an issue? I thought it only affected babies.

I think we have seen a few bloody stools here and there.

They do not sit around with feathers puffed up. They are dying one at a time and they just sit in the corner and cower. They lose control of their legs and become really weak.

How, one of the older (3 month) old Delawares I have is starting to act like he is losing control of his legs. AND, my 2 year old roosters comb is turning blue at the tips. I expect a bit of that in the winter but not now.

Thanks.

 

[FlyHigher]

bloody stools? Is it dark red? if it is coccidiosis, you can treat it with Toltrazuril.

 

[leadwolf1]

I would treat everyone for coccidia. Chickens of all ages can get it, not just chicks. I'm really concerned about the leg issues. Treat them all and hope that it takes care of all issues. If you lose another, I'd. Have anecropsy done so that you will know what you are dealing with. You can also take a stool sample to the vet and have it checked for parasites, including coccidia. The vet can tell you if that is the problem. If corks doesn't help, I would be conserned about Marek's disease. That's why I recommended a necropsy.


quote name="ecojoe69" url="/t/686260/young-chickens-dying-fast-here-are-the-symptoms-can-anyone-help#post_9333365"]I will try treating them with the Corid you suggest.  Can it be purchased at Farm and Fleet?  They were likely just a few days old when I got them at the swap meet but they are now about 2 months.  How long is Coccid. an issue?  I thought it only affected babies.

I think we have seen a few bloody stools here and there. 

They do not sit around with feathers puffed up.  They are dying one at a time and they just sit in the corner and cower.  They lose control of their legs and become really weak.

How, one of the older (3 month) old Delawares I have is starting to act like he is losing control of his legs.  AND, my 2 year old roosters comb is turning blue at the tips.  I expect a bit of that in the winter but not now. 

Thanks.
[/quote]

 

[ecojoe69]

It isn't dark red, just a bit of blood red in a kind of mucousy, loose stool. I just watched a video on marek and am going to go check again. A necropsy might be needed. Ugh.

 

[FlyHigher]

Treat it as coccidiosis first with Toltrazuril.
There may be other complications,but your chicken has coccidiosis very likely.

 

[jvgrist]

dying within 3 days of first symptoms does sound like coccidiosis. The having no muscle mass sounds like they're not eating. ( and living off their muscle tissue )

This might sound silly, but have you been adding vitamin supplements to their water? It's a cheap (cheep? cheep? ) thing to do, and every bit helps when they're ill. It will help boost their immune system and help boost their calcium levels and a few other minerals that growing chicks need in their diet to prevent things like slipped tendons ( possibly related to the leg problem? )

The bloody stools is another warning sign of gut problems. When you notice the bloody stools, are you cleaning out the pens? Cleaning out the bloody stools? Best to isolate any bird with blood in their stool to prevent other birds pecking at the poo and ingesting any bacteria that could be causing this problem. If it's killing more than one bird, over a long period of time ( weeks ), it's a virus/bacteria that is spreading, on the ground via poo ( could even be a rat poo if you have vermin problems ), in the feed ( usually vermin related ), in the water (depending on how often you clean it ). In the future, separate newcomers from any existing flock for a few weeks if able. If not able, treat the whole flock with a wormer at the very least when you get newcomers. Hope they pull through! always scary )=