- May 24, 2007
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I just got 2, almost 3 week old buff orpington chicks and a dark cornish bantam(??) from a man that put an ad out for day old chicks. The chicks look ok . They are eating and drinking. Playing with their little perch, scratching around in their little pine shavings but a few times a day I see what looks like red, slimy poop. Could it be bloody stools?? I am an RN so you would think I could recognize bloody stools when I see them, but I am a newbie to chickens.
I have had them for over 48 hours now and it doesn't seem to be more or less than when I first got them.
The place I got them from was horrible. He had layers in cages everywhere and my feet sunk in the amount of chicken poop on the ground. The smell that came from that place was so bad I wouldn't let my children in there. He did have the babies in a brooder with a wire bottom that looked decently clean. I almost didn't get them but I really wanted a few buff's and I just can't order the 25 minimum from the hatcheries. Besides that, I felt like I had to rescue the poor things.
Anyways, do you think it could be coccidiosis? Could it be from an abrupt change in diet? The man had them on something he makes and didn't want to part with some so I could make a gradual change in diet.
I have them on medicated chick starter now.
Oh and one more question, today I thought I saw a little bug crawling by one of the babies vent. I think maybe it was too big to be mites?? How do I treat them for bugs at this young age? Geesh, I almost wish I would have left them, but I feel like if I can get everything fixed that they would have a much better life than what they would have had. Must be the nurse in me. I have to fix them.
Thanks for any thoughts or advice you might have.
Teresa
The place I got them from was horrible. He had layers in cages everywhere and my feet sunk in the amount of chicken poop on the ground. The smell that came from that place was so bad I wouldn't let my children in there. He did have the babies in a brooder with a wire bottom that looked decently clean. I almost didn't get them but I really wanted a few buff's and I just can't order the 25 minimum from the hatcheries. Besides that, I felt like I had to rescue the poor things.
Anyways, do you think it could be coccidiosis? Could it be from an abrupt change in diet? The man had them on something he makes and didn't want to part with some so I could make a gradual change in diet.
Oh and one more question, today I thought I saw a little bug crawling by one of the babies vent. I think maybe it was too big to be mites?? How do I treat them for bugs at this young age? Geesh, I almost wish I would have left them, but I feel like if I can get everything fixed that they would have a much better life than what they would have had. Must be the nurse in me. I have to fix them.
Thanks for any thoughts or advice you might have.
Teresa
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