RT Goth Barn
Chirping
I am at an extreme loss for what to do here.
About 6 weeks ago I introduced 3 juveniles to my flock outside which started an insane cycle of coccidosis.
They were farm store chickens that had previously been inside for around 50 days, i also kept 3 other separate groups of chicks inside, their info at time of first outbreak:
Group 1. a broody had one juvenile hatched by her, but lost a baby and took in 4 bantam/small chicks (at the point of story now juveniles) that were purchased with the 3 bigger juveniles (this group has been completely unaffected)
Group 2. Was a group of 7 juveniles that 4 hatched in an incubator here, and 3 store chicks that got added around a week old
-Group 3 was 9 chicks hatched here in an incubator were 3 weeks old at the time
Back to the point- I slowly introduced the 3 Juveniles outside, and 4 days after full integration my flock started showing signs of coccidosis. It had been in the upper 90s and LOTS of rain. Everyone was a little lethargic but 4 birds were showing symptoms. I began treating immediately. I lost one within 24 hours, but the rest fully recovered.
All juvenile flocks (groups 1-2) inside got corid water treatment, and the 3 week old flock who had had no contact with any of the other chickens or their areas received 2 weeks of medicated feed.
2 weeks later group 2 started showing coccidosis symptoms- they were now around 7/8 weeks old. NO changes in what chickens they had shared space with. They were all immediately treated in their water, 2 were treated direct to mouth. One being directly treated passed within 24 hours, the other did not recover for 10 days- had 3 days of direct corid, then vet switched him to another direct treatment (don't recall the name) for 5 days, then 2 days after the last dose he was fully recovered.
2 weeks later (yesterday) I woke up to find Group 3 (group that got medicated food weeks 3 and 4) symptomatic, one chicken had already passed. Immediately started corid water and direct corid treatment and am seeing some improvement all around.
From first outbreak it was exactly 14 days before the first indoor outbreak, with no birds coming in from outside, clothes changes in between outdoor flock and indoor flock, etc. Then 15 days til the second indoor outbreak. Everything had been sanitized over and over again (although I know that doesn't do much for cocci) and all the birds were kept in their respective areas. Each group of birds always have their own blankets/sheets for when i hold them, toys, feeders, etc purchased new when they hatch to prevent cross contamination. Might mean nothing, but the chickens seeming to get the brunt of it were either Ayam Cemanis, or black or blue feathered ayam cemani crosses (while the chicks with same parentage but white plumage seem miraculously unaffected, a brown colored chick with same father and different mother also unaffected)
Is there something that changes around 14 days? Am I just getting multiple types of coccidia (as corid didn't work on 2nd outbreak, which also could have been because they were just treated with it 2 weeks earlier?)
I feel like I am bursting out of my seams with grief and fear and I cannot take the loss of another bird. We breed and have decided to stop. however, coincidentally, the days of both indoor outbreaks were the exact days we had chicks hatch (a mere 2 chicks at each hatch out of 22 eggs incubates both times) and not to be superstitious or all woowoo... but I'm feeling like I'm absolutely cursed
What can I do better? What can I do differently? How can I stop this cycle?
I am scared to ever get another chicken. I am scared to ever HATCH another chicken despite all the investments and time put into the breeding programs.
About 6 weeks ago I introduced 3 juveniles to my flock outside which started an insane cycle of coccidosis.
They were farm store chickens that had previously been inside for around 50 days, i also kept 3 other separate groups of chicks inside, their info at time of first outbreak:
Group 1. a broody had one juvenile hatched by her, but lost a baby and took in 4 bantam/small chicks (at the point of story now juveniles) that were purchased with the 3 bigger juveniles (this group has been completely unaffected)
Group 2. Was a group of 7 juveniles that 4 hatched in an incubator here, and 3 store chicks that got added around a week old
-Group 3 was 9 chicks hatched here in an incubator were 3 weeks old at the time
Back to the point- I slowly introduced the 3 Juveniles outside, and 4 days after full integration my flock started showing signs of coccidosis. It had been in the upper 90s and LOTS of rain. Everyone was a little lethargic but 4 birds were showing symptoms. I began treating immediately. I lost one within 24 hours, but the rest fully recovered.
All juvenile flocks (groups 1-2) inside got corid water treatment, and the 3 week old flock who had had no contact with any of the other chickens or their areas received 2 weeks of medicated feed.
2 weeks later group 2 started showing coccidosis symptoms- they were now around 7/8 weeks old. NO changes in what chickens they had shared space with. They were all immediately treated in their water, 2 were treated direct to mouth. One being directly treated passed within 24 hours, the other did not recover for 10 days- had 3 days of direct corid, then vet switched him to another direct treatment (don't recall the name) for 5 days, then 2 days after the last dose he was fully recovered.
2 weeks later (yesterday) I woke up to find Group 3 (group that got medicated food weeks 3 and 4) symptomatic, one chicken had already passed. Immediately started corid water and direct corid treatment and am seeing some improvement all around.
From first outbreak it was exactly 14 days before the first indoor outbreak, with no birds coming in from outside, clothes changes in between outdoor flock and indoor flock, etc. Then 15 days til the second indoor outbreak. Everything had been sanitized over and over again (although I know that doesn't do much for cocci) and all the birds were kept in their respective areas. Each group of birds always have their own blankets/sheets for when i hold them, toys, feeders, etc purchased new when they hatch to prevent cross contamination. Might mean nothing, but the chickens seeming to get the brunt of it were either Ayam Cemanis, or black or blue feathered ayam cemani crosses (while the chicks with same parentage but white plumage seem miraculously unaffected, a brown colored chick with same father and different mother also unaffected)
Is there something that changes around 14 days? Am I just getting multiple types of coccidia (as corid didn't work on 2nd outbreak, which also could have been because they were just treated with it 2 weeks earlier?)
I feel like I am bursting out of my seams with grief and fear and I cannot take the loss of another bird. We breed and have decided to stop. however, coincidentally, the days of both indoor outbreaks were the exact days we had chicks hatch (a mere 2 chicks at each hatch out of 22 eggs incubates both times) and not to be superstitious or all woowoo... but I'm feeling like I'm absolutely cursed
What can I do better? What can I do differently? How can I stop this cycle?
I am scared to ever get another chicken. I am scared to ever HATCH another chicken despite all the investments and time put into the breeding programs.
