[animal mad]

i was given 4 chicks about 7 days ago they appeared really healthy and bright, i put them in with some new hatch sebrights, which i know is my first mistake never to be done again. anyway 3 of the orpington chicks died over a period of 6 days with no symptons before they were all really bright eating etc, and now i have lost 3 of the sebright chicks exactly the same although i did notice today a bit of loose motions no blood or water, i have seem coxxi poos before and it is nothing like that,  not sure what to do? they are eating and really bright, i was thinking about giving them some boiled egg and natural yoghurt but not sure if that will help chicks or not, any ideas, i think the next step must be the vets not sure how much use they will be around here. 

[joyfull]

whatever it is seems to be contagious so I think a visit to the vets is needed, sorry 

[Casey76]

Don't give them yogurt - it will aggravate any tummy upset they already have.

You could add a few drops of Lifeguard or Respite into the water while you are waiting for a vet appointment, but with chicks to the vets it would be, I'm afraid.

[hillfooter]

Don't give them yogurt - it will aggravate any tummy upset they already have.

You could add a few drops of Lifeguard or Respite into the water while you are waiting for a vet appointment, but with chicks to the vets it would be, I'm afraid.

I'd agree that yogurt for chicks isn't a good idea.  

Lifeguard is an expensive multivit (described as a tonic which is a term often used for concotions with no definable medical benefits) and there's other cheaper sources of vits available.  It also is claimed to contain antioxidants.  The claimed benefits of antioxidants were a theoretical fashionable fad a few years ago and are now much discredited.  The theory being that antioxodants neutralised free radicals, highly reactive chemicals which were thought to damage cells and DNA molecules.  It was postulated that increasing antioxidants and hence reducing free radicals would have a beneficial effect on aging (which is why the cosmetics industy hyped it) and cancer in particular.  Unfortunately modern research has not shown this to be so simple and in the case of cancer, mechanisms which increase the risk from increasing antioxidants have been postulated.  Multivits may help and probably won't do any harm.  See attached picture for a low cost multivit formulated for chicks which will cost significantly less than Lifeguard and will last a long time.

Respite is a herbal concoction with wide ranging benefitial claims which appear to be hyped to the point of impausibility.  Basically the active ingredient is garlic which contains a natural antibiotic. Garlic acts as a mild antiseptic when applied externally to wounds for example.  However drinking it is another matter and I don't know if there would be any benefit though garlic is widely believed by herbalists to be a wonder preventative for lots of things.  Including vampires!

I think the vet is your best course of action here by a long chalk and he/she will be able to prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic from a first hand diagnosis.

Best of luck.
HF

[animal mad]

i have an appointment in an hour so will let youknow how we gt on.