Baffled and Totally Bummed OUT!! ***FINAL UPDATE***

[Dar]

Quote:
wow those are fantastic poop files..!

 

[dlhunicorn]

You are not "overcleaning" however using bleach means you have to THOROUGHLY rinse and allow for the bleach "gas" to evaporate > exposure to this can cause problems.

They are on a dirt floor in their coop with mulch on top.

My problem is with the mulch... get rid of it. (For instance as just ONE problem assoc with it > dampness > cocci love damp environments. Best way to deal with cocci is to keep all clean and DRY)​

 

[wundernurse]

What is wrong with mulch??
I might also switch from bleach solution to a vinegar/water solution.

 

[dlhunicorn]

In this case the main problem is that mulch holds in DAMP... the coop floor (and any material on it) needs to be DRY

 

[wundernurse]

OK, just came in from am chicken chores. I think that bird I was talking about may very well have cocci. I took a pic of the droppings from underneath her and it was runny, and more of a brown/clay color. Pic looks too blurry to post. Definitely looked different then the 2 others. Should I treat for cocci or wait until I take a fecal tomorrow to confirm? Also, about the mulch, the coop floor is mostly dirt at this point, but has been damp for a while now b/c we have had sooooo much rain. Should I remove all damp bedding and replace? Thanks for all your help

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
No, that statement was just poor communication on my part. It seems to me that quite often people who provide a high level of care for their birds sometimes have more problems. I know this seems counterintuitive but many long time breeders will say the same thing. Then when Cocci was mentioned I thought maybe the birds never had good exposure to it in order to develop an immunity. DLHUnicorn is probably trying to reach through her computer to choke me about my last post.

I wish I had more to offer. I've had entire hatches of birds die from 1 day to 9 days with almost no symptoms or just a day or two of slowing down. Since it happened with only certain birds and not my entire flock it never concerned me too badly.

Good luck with this. I'll be following your thread.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
My experience with Cocci is that it kills fast so with the few things we know here that treating for it most likely wouldn't hurt them. I believe Amprolium is prefered over Sulmet but would wait for more answers. If you already have sulmet then just use it.

 

[wundernurse]

No worries Purple Chicken. I am just trying to understand what may be killing my birds. Should I treat for cocci or wait until tomorrow to take the fecal?? How much time does this bird have?

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Now I really wish a few of the pros were online but they aren't. Once Cocci builds up to a certain level in their intestines it could kill in a day or less. Some will fight it off and some won't.

When I was in your position with a batch of silkies I chose not to medicate and lost 7 of 14 in a weekend.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Taking care of the damp issues in your coop will deal with the cocci in the environment (cocci do not survive long in a DRY clean environment > at least not in pathogenic quantity) and if it were me I would go with the treatment if your birds are looking lethargic... certainly separate the ill one and treat > if you are using a sulfa drug this will also deal with an eventual e.coli problem which might also be present).
So yes... remove all the damp straw hay or shavings or whatever else is in that coop... get it dry and replace shavings in the nest. Perhaps you can raise the floor if you are unable to get it dry ?

ETA: @PC I'll just hug ya to death instead