2 dead chickens in 2 weeks

[Lynn Dewald]

Thanks to all of you for the detailed replies, much appreciated. In reply to Haunted55's post, I do not see anything unusual about the grass.

I didn't wait to get all of your responses before I felt like I had to start them on something. Not having confidence in the Co rid, labelled for calves in this instance, I went with the Sulmet but only after talking to one a colleague who is Neuro-physiologist and with a great chemistry background. I learned a bit from him about Sulmet and related drugs. In case you are interested:

The background on this drug - and many drugs like it - probably more than you want to know, but just trying to give you a feel for the drug - is they were one of the first antibacterial agents back in the WWII days and were part what were called "sulfa" drugs - they act by starving the bacteria or the protozoan of folic acid (i.e. the vitamin) by inhibiting a key enzyme - so in the 1940's it was used to great success with combat wounds in humans, etc. - most of the human toxicity as I understand it - is this drug's ability to cause kernicterus which can lead to brain damage (i.e. super bad jaundice, specifically in neonatal jaundice because their little blood-brain barrier is in complete) and the fact that these drugs can cause allergic reactions in humans - but again - if it makes you feel better - they were used to save human lives 60 years ago. As far as eating the eggs, wait 10 days after the last treatment and all will be fine.

I am still not convinced Cocci is what we had/have. If I loose another we may seek professional help to diagnose. Thanks again for the words of wisdom.

 

[Haunted55]

Thanks to all of you for the detailed replies, much appreciated. In reply to Haunted55's post, I do not see anything unusual about the grass.

I didn't wait to get all of your responses before I felt like I had to start them on something. Not having confidence in the Co rid, labelled for calves in this instance, I went with the Sulmet but only after talking to one a colleague who is Neuro-physiologist and with a great chemistry background. I learned a bit from him about Sulmet and related drugs. In case you are interested:

The background on this drug - and many drugs like it - probably more than you want to know, but just trying to give you a feel for the drug - is they were one of the first antibacterial agents back in the WWII days and were part what were called "sulfa" drugs - they act by starving the bacteria or the protozoan of folic acid (i.e. the vitamin) by inhibiting a key enzyme - so in the 1940's it was used to great success with combat wounds in humans, etc. - most of the human toxicity as I understand it - is this drug's ability to cause kernicterus which can lead to brain damage (i.e. super bad jaundice, specifically in neonatal jaundice because their little blood-brain barrier is in complete) and the fact that these drugs can cause allergic reactions in humans - but again - if it makes you feel better - they were used to save human lives 60 years ago. As far as eating the eggs, wait 10 days after the last treatment and all will be fine.

I am still not convinced Cocci is what we had/have. If I loose another we may seek professional help to diagnose. Thanks again for the words of wisdom.

AWESOME INFORMATION!!!!! Thank-you for that! Seriously. I too used Sulmet the first year I had problems with resistant coccidia before i found out about Di-Methox. I did notice more blood and less than happy birds but it cured what ailed them and I used Bird Powder to help their systems get back to normal afterwards. Harsh, but it worked. I try to keep Sulmet here as a matter of course anyways.

Even if this does turn out to be a very resistant strain of coccidia, the Sulmet is going to give them a fighting chance. Sometimes it's all we can do. Just FYI, the Corid for calves, 20% is the right stuff. The dosing for chickens is 3/4 tsp. per gallon of water. I normally give it for the full 7 days. One thing with Corid, you never want to give it for more than 14 days total. Ever. The risks of permanent damage to their bodies is just too great.

Again, thanks so much for the history lesson. Seriously! I enjoy them and file them away. They help me remember what and why.

 

[mithious]

AWESOME INFORMATION!!!!! Thank-you for that! Seriously. I too used Sulmet the first year I had problems with resistant coccidia before i found out about Di-Methox. I did notice more blood and less than happy birds but it cured what ailed them and I used Bird Powder to help their systems get back to normal afterwards. Harsh, but it worked. I try to keep Sulmet here as a matter of course anyways.

Even if this does turn out to be a very resistant strain of coccidia, the Sulmet is going to give them a fighting chance. Sometimes it's all we can do. Just FYI, the Corid for calves, 20% is the right stuff. The dosing for chickens is 3/4 tsp. per gallon of water. I normally give it for the full 7 days. One thing with Corid, you never want to give it for more than 14 days total. Ever. The risks of permanent damage to their bodies is just too great.

Again, thanks so much for the history lesson. Seriously! I enjoy them and file them away. They help me remember what and why.

When you say 14 days total, do you mean in their life time, or 14 days in a row? Thanks for any answers!!!!

 

[Haunted55]

When you say 14 days total, do you mean in their life time, or 14 days in a row? Thanks for any answers!!!!

Row. Sinc this is a thiamine blocker and thiamine is very important in the neuro system, giving too long or too much can cause irrepairable damage to the neuro system. Just not worth the chance.

 

[mithious]

Row. Sinc this is a thiamine blocker and thiamine is very important in the neuro system, giving too long or too much can cause irrepairable damage to the neuro system. Just not worth the chance.

Oh thank you for explaining that. I always appreciate you input!!! I have learned much reading your posts!!!

 

[casportpony]

Lynn,

Seems that many people aren't comfortable using a product that's labeled for cows, horses, goats, sheep, etc and not chickens. FYI, the amprolium that's sold in the US has dosing for calves, but the amprolium that's sold in Canada has dosing or poultry and calves, go figure...

https://www.bestvetsolutions.com/files/downloads/Amprol 128 Label.pdf

If you worm them, you'll run into the same problem, Wazine, which only gets roundworms, is the only "poultry" wormer, all others are labeled for livestock and horses, but we all use them.

-Kathy