[latis]

hello, as my first venture into chicken keeping i have got some chicks and i am desperately trying to nurse a poorly little maran back to health so any advice would be really appreciated,

 i got them from a reputable breeder and they have been vaccinated against the usual evils including an oral vaccine for Coccidiosis at a day old.

 at about 4 weeks ( a few days after i got her) she started pooing blood in the mornings she was a little lethargic and poorly looking in the mornings but by the afternoons she was really perked up, she did spend a day off her food and water and after 3 days i called the breeder who said the only cause of blood in poo was Coccidiosis (which i had suspected) which was strange as she had been vaccinated, he said if i took her back to him he would replace her for me. however by the time i got to his she was fullof the joys of spring and no longer pooing blood. he did repace her for me but also suggested i keep hold of her too and have a go at nursing her back to health as he suspected she would pull through and wondered if it was a delayed reaction to the live oral vaccine. so i tucked her up in a box with some heat and some food and some water with a little cider vinegar and honey in it, tempted her with some from a syringe and with in a few days she seemed completely well.

HOWEVER this morning (nearly 2 weeks on) she has completely stopped eating and is just huddled and seems pretty unfazed by anything, she isn't pooing blood, but then nouthing seems to be passing through her at all, altho it does sound a bit like she is farting? her breathing is a bit wheesy and smelt a bit fishy earier. i've managed to get her to have a little of the same water/honey/cidervinegar from a syringe  but food is deffinately off the cards. this evening she's spent pretty much the whole evening cuddled up on my lap.

i would hate to loose her, she's such a sweet little bird.

any hints or tips? unfortunately i live in the middle of a city and all the local vets admit their knowledge is a little hazy when it comes to chickens. thought it might be best to try here first?

UPDATE:she's just started pooed white water, not surprising considering that's pretty much all that's gone in to her today, but i'm figuring it's good news as there's no blood!!

when i decided to keep hens i had no idea how much time i would spend analysing poo. . . . . . .

[Vember]

Hi Latis

Does she look as if she is straining to go poop?

Leading up to this what were her poops like yesterday? Watery? normal? what colour?

When was the last time you saw her eat?


Sarah

[Foxy]

Hi Latis

I am sorry but your chick has cocci and is struggling by the sound of it, respiratory symptoms you describe are a secondary problem. The vaccine is not always effective, depending on the type of cocci present.
You need COXIOD asap if the chick has any chance of survival, which I am afraid sounds low,really sorry.You can get this from most feed places, like CountryWide, Scats, etc. You pop it in their water, make sure though no vitamins are given at the same time this will render the coxid ineffective. Keep the chick warm and dry, maybe a little warm chopped apple in the chick crumb if he will take it. Make sure any birds you have also have the coxoid treatment as the droppings will be infected.
Best of luck with your littl'un.

[latis]

Hi guys,
thanks for your advice.
Unfortunately she died this morning. The day before she had seemed completely well, pooing normally and eating well. none of my other chicks have showen any signs of being even remotely poorly and I'm assuming the vaccine has worked in their case, ( I'm assuming cocci is short for Coccidiosis?) if I give them COXIOD it will counteract the vaccine as they are still quite young however I will bear it in mind if any of the others show any symptoms at all.

as I'm here if any one knows a vet in the southampton area who is good with chickens it would be good to know of one if I need to take any of my birds in the future

again thanks for your time and advice

[Foxy]

I would still treat the other chicks, as cocciodosis(cocci) comes on really quickly and it is highly likely your other chicks may have infected them too. Not sure of vets in southhampton but have a look here:


http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=26140.0