Acified copper sulfate or valbazen? Bright yellow poop!

Hi All. Somehow I have some chickens with bright yellow poo. It's runny. They are lethargic. It's not impacting all of them but I have three that were just fine a couple of days ago. I was doing some research on here and came to the conclusion I am dealing with
blackhead. I have (had) a very healthy flock...this has just cropped up in the past two days. Should I stick with the Acidified copper sulfate mixed with vinegar in their water or should I pull out the heavy hitter, Valbazen.
Also, I could use some advice on some young chicks. These chicks are almost a month old. Can they receive the same wormer? Really perplexed about this, as all was well with the flock until recently.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Quote:
Blackhead is a protozoa and acidified copper sulfate will take care of it. Dosage is 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 days. Make a fresh mixture daily, dont use metal containers/bowls. Once you're done treating, wait a few days then go get the protozoas host in your chickens....the cecal worm. Dose your chickens with 1/2cc valbazen orally to kill the cecal worm and other worms. Redose again in 10 days. If you have banty's or smaller birds, the dosage is 1/4cc.
Do not add vinegar to the copper sulfate/water mixture....that would most likely be used a fungal problem instead of a protozoal problem.

Thanks Dawg. How the heck did this happen? I practice safe measures clean shavings, sanitize with oxine, spray the coops to prevent lice, dust them.....I just lost one of my hens!
I must have misread the directions as I have already added the vinegar ... Should I just forgo that and do the valbazine? WIll my month old chicks be ok even with a 1/4cc dosage?
I even let my chickens free range...thinking that would help keep them healthier than what they already are. thanks again for your quick response!

Quote:
Worm eggs are everywhere in the soil, grass etc...it's inevitable that chickens will eventually get worms. Normally, blackhead infection is more problematic and deadly in turkey's. The main concern would be the cecal worm in chickens, but it's best to treat the chickens first with the copper sulfate to rid them of the protozoa because the protozoa eggs were released into the chickens systems when released from the cecal worms. Then dose them with valbazen to get rid of the cecal worm. The cecal worm is the host for the protozoa. For the one month old chicks dose with 1/8cc valbazen. You could take a fecal sample to a vet to verify if you're dealing with cecal worms if you wish. Here's a link to the copper sulfate dosage:
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acidified_copper_sulfate.html

Quote:
Worm eggs are everywhere in the soil, grass etc...it's inevitable that chickens will eventually get worms. Normally, blackhead infection is more problematic and deadly in turkey's. The main concern would be the cecal worm in chickens, but it's best to treat the chickens first with the copper sulfate to rid them of the protozoa because the protozoa eggs were released into the chickens systems when released from the cecal worms. Then dose them with valbazen to get rid of the cecal worm. The cecal worm is the host for the protozoa. For the one month old chicks dose with 1/8cc valbazen. You could take a fecal sample to a vet to verify if you're dealing with cecal worms if you wish. Here's a link to the copper sulfate dosage:
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acidified_copper_sulfate.html

Thanks again. Yes. The description describes what some of my chickens are experiencing. I'll take your advice and take a sample to the vet. Most of them are still bouncing around and doing their happy chicken thing! Hopefully I can get this under control soon! Appreciate your time.

Quote:
Worm eggs are everywhere in the soil, grass etc...it's inevitable that chickens will eventually get worms. Normally, blackhead infection is more problematic and deadly in turkey's. The main concern would be the cecal worm in chickens, but it's best to treat the chickens first with the copper sulfate to rid them of the protozoa because the protozoa eggs were released into the chickens systems when released from the cecal worms. Then dose them with valbazen to get rid of the cecal worm. The cecal worm is the host for the protozoa. For the one month old chicks dose with 1/8cc valbazen. You could take a fecal sample to a vet to verify if you're dealing with cecal worms if you wish. Here's a link to the copper sulfate dosage:
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acidified_copper_sulfate.html

Thanks again. Yes. The description describes what some of my chickens are experiencing. I'll take your advice and take a sample to the vet. Most of them are still bouncing around and doing their happy chicken thing! Hopefully I can get this under control soon! Appreciate your time.

Dawg, I just thought of something. There are wild turkeys all over the property. I live right on the edge of the woods. I think I need to increase the amount of times that I deworm. I usually only deworm quartly......

Is Metronidazole just as effective for blackhead? I just bought a 100 count bottle of 500mg to have on hand in case my peafowl show symptoms for blackhead.

I bought the Fish Zole meds which didn't need an Rx.

Thanks

Quote:
Blackhead is a protozoa and acidified copper sulfate will take care of it. Dosage is 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 days. Make a fresh mixture daily, dont use metal containers/bowls. Once you're done treating, wait a few days then go get the protozoas host in your chickens....the cecal worm. Dose your chickens with 1/2cc valbazen orally to kill the cecal worm and other worms. Redose again in 10 days. If you have banty's or smaller birds, the dosage is 1/4cc.
Do not add vinegar to the copper sulfate/water mixture....that would most likely be used a fungal problem instead of a protozoal problem.

How would metronidazole compare to acidified copper sulfate as a treatment or preventative?

Quote:
Blackhead is a protozoa and acidified copper sulfate will take care of it. Dosage is 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 days. Make a fresh mixture daily, dont use metal containers/bowls. Once you're done treating, wait a few days then go get the protozoas host in your chickens....the cecal worm. Dose your chickens with 1/2cc valbazen orally to kill the cecal worm and other worms. Redose again in 10 days. If you have banty's or smaller birds, the dosage is 1/4cc.
Do not add vinegar to the copper sulfate/water mixture....that would most likely be used a fungal problem instead of a protozoal problem.

How would metronidazole compare to acidified copper sulfate as a treatment or preventative?

I would prefer to use metronidazole because you have to directly dose it orally into the infected bird.