Blood on eggs and poo?

[Tanichca]

My silkie pullet laid an egg yesterday, and there was a smear of blood on it. I thought it was just a small isolated phenomena, but there is blood when she goes #2, and I am starting to get worried. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[TXmom]

How old is she? How long has she been laying? When my girls first started laying, I occasionally found a small smear of blood on the eggs. That's normal.

If she has blood in her droppings though, that could mean coccidiosis. There are several things you can do for cocci...you can get Corid or Sulmet at the feedstore. Look up coccidiosis for full treatment information (I don't have it all on the top of my head since I haven't had to deal with that...).

 

[Tanichca]

she is about 7 months old, and this is the second egg i have got from her in a month. Is this coccidiosis contagious?

 

[TXmom]

It's a protozoa that lives in the soil...pretty much found everywhere. The birds eat it and it multiplies inside them. So....they are probably all exposed, but they might not all get sick from it. They can usually handle a small amount of cocci and then build an immunity to it.

I don't know about your pullet, though. If that's only her 2nd egg in the last month, than a small amount of blood might be "normal". But if it's cocci, she needs to be treated right away because it can be fatal. I hope someone with more knowledge sees this and can help you out....I don't really know how to diagnose it for sure, other than taking a stool sample to the vet for testing.

 

[Judy]

The germs are in the soil so if you treat, you should treat them all. Try to get Corid if you can.

 

[Tanichca]

Where do find the stuff to treat cocci? do I get it right away, or wait and see if it sorts itself out or is just the normal bloody egg thing?

No other birds show any signs, and the one bird is still active as ever....
The blood on the eggs may be normal, but the blood in her poo? Need some help here, as i am starting 4H soon and do not want other peoples' birds exposed.

 

[Tanichca]

Hen still good, and no symptoms yet. Poo slightly more normal too. I'll wait and see.....

 

[PortageGirl]

Sounds like a plan. Just keep a close eye on them, and if it seems really worrysome you can have a fecal sample tested at a Vet's for it without it costing an arm and a leg (usually). This will help you find out if you want to know for sure. Call the local vet and ask if they'll check for you and find out how much poo to bring, and if it has to be 4 hours or less old... that's the standard for most worms, but not sure about coccidiosis. Yes it will cost a little but it will buy you peace of mind too.

I would prefer to do this before I spent money on medicine that they may not need. Overdoing the meds is as much a problem as not treating them when they need it IMO. Just my opinion though, as usual we all have em!