3 sick chickens from 2 different coops

[Linzmac]

Please help… we lost our rooster a few weeks ago and now two of our hens that we keep separately in a different coop (still close together but technically different flock) are sick and showing the same signs. We treated everyone for cocci when the rooster died and we have begun treating both flocks again. They have diarrhea and a squishy crop, but we don’t believe it’s sour crop… if we massage them they throw up clear liquid that does not smell. The diarrhea smells horrible and the one thing we have seen in all three birds is something that looks like a berry…

We have 14 birds total. The rooster was in a coop and run with eight other hens, all of which are fine so far. These two hens are with four other girls who are also fine. I’ll take any ideas you have… are there toxic berries to chickens??? We don’t see anything around. We have quarantined both.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Where are you located? Have you had heavy rain or high heat? Have the birds been de-wormed?
Please provide photos of the "berry" - could be that it's toxic to the birds...

 

[Linzmac]

Where are you located? Have you had heavy rain or high heat? Have the birds been de-wormed?
Please provide photos of the "berry" - could be that it's toxic to the birds...

We’re in New Jersey…very humid, rainy, and in the 90s lately. We have been very diligent with keeping their coops and runs clean because of this… New bedding, etc…
We have added diatomaceous earth and supplements to water, but if it is worms we are not seeing anything in their poop so we have not been able to pinpoint anything specific. We are going to reach out to a vet to hopefully do a fecal analysis (if they even do it) around us. I’m going to try to get a picture of what we found in the poop. Thank you!!

 

[Linzmac]

Now that our one hen is quarantined- she’s on cardboard- we are clearly seeing that her poop is bloody… The stuff in the picture that is on the little rock that I used to move it around is what I thought was a berry but it’s soft, almost like the skin… The other two birds it was most definitely a berry that was more solid (Best I could describe like a mini cranberry, but we obviously have no cranberries around here).

 

[Swbertrand1]

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous can help better than I. This looks pretty serious, and I'm not Coccidiosis expert, but there are those here that are.

Rainy conditions seem to make Cocci infections magnify, and we're seeing the same weather in NC. Worms may not show up in their stools, but a suddenly lethargic, but otherwise healthy bird, is a huge red flag to me to consider worms of any kind. The blood in the stool is a MASSIVE red flag! Worms can sap the strength and energy of the healthiest bird rapidly.

I don't think you have time to wait for a fecal float, especially with this bird. I trust some of those above can and will give you immediate advice today. They are usually online...

S

 

[Linzmac]

Thank you so much. Ironically the chicken that did this is moving around and eating still (in quarantine). The other hen is not doing much of anything. What we are so confused about is the time frame in between our rooster’s death two weeks ago and these two chickens now being sick with none of our other girls sick (yet).

 

[Swbertrand1]

Thank you so much. Ironically the chicken that did this is moving around and eating still (in quarantine). The other hen is not doing much of anything. What we are so confused about is the time frame in between our rooster’s death two weeks ago and these two chickens now being sick with none of our other girls sick (yet).

Parasites have an incubation period between the time adult worms lay new eggs and the time those eggs hatch and mature - think the time for incubation is about 7 days for Coccidiosis, but could be shorter or longer.
Shorthly thereafter, they will become a problem for your flock (again). I think you're might be seeing the second round of Cocci. Read more here, and pay attention to the notes about wet, humid conditions:

https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/blog/coccidiosis-your-chickens-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[Eggcessive]

What are you feeding your chickens? Do they get probiotics? Some feeds already contain them, but plain Greek yogurt and some commercial animal probiotics are also available. It won’t hurt to worm your chickens once or twice a year with Valbazen, and some use SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer. If possible call your regular vet and ask if they will do a fecal float as a favor. They may do it if you have to take in another pet for a check up or shots. Look around your free range area for poke berries or other vegetation that might be affecting the color of droppings.

 

[azygous]

I suspect coccidiosis with necrotic enteritis if you can rule out berries. That one "cranberry" looked like a blood clot.

When you treated with Corid, how was it mixed and how long did you give it and did you mix it fresh each day. Did you wait a week and do another five day course?

This is a good med for treating coccidiosis with necrotic enteritis. https://www.jedds.com/shop/trimethoprinsulfa-100-g-medpet/

 

[Linzmac]

I suspect coccidiosis with necrotic enteritis if you can rule out berries. That one "cranberry" looked like a blood clot.

When you treated with Corid, how was it mixed and how long did you give it and did you mix it fresh each day. Did you wait a week and do another five day course?

This is a good med for treating coccidiosis with necrotic enteritis. https://www.jedds.com/shop/trimethoprinsulfa-100-g-medpet/

Thank you so much. We did treat for a week and freshened the water, but we did not redo another course of corid. I agree- I have a feeling the red that we’re seeing is part of the bird (not a berry). I’m hoping we can save our one hen but the other is in really rough shape. Thank you again for this resource… I’m ordering it now.