bloody poop - 4 1/2 week old chicks- Cocci update

[PunkinPeep]

Earlier in the week i noticed sort of runny poop in the pen. I've been keeping an eye on them, but everyone seemed active.

Today, for the first time, i found 2 places with bloody poop and 2 places with just blood. My chicks have gotten nothing but medicated chick starter and any bugs they catch since i've had them. One of the bloody poops was big and round - bigger than a pea, but it wasn't hard inside.

All the chicks still seem active.

If i check each chick, what do i look for? Bloody tail feathers?

Please help.

 

[Judy]

Might be something that will pass. Tell us about their pen, are they outdoors, etc.

 

[PunkinPeep]

They are outdoors in a temporary pen, which is basically a big wooden box (about 3' x 5' and about 2 1/2' deep), open to the sky, with chicken wire over the top. I'm using hay for bedding.

They've been in this pen for less than a week. Before they were in a small (2x2x2) chicken wire pen with the earth for a floor.

I noticed the runny poop after we moved them.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I really need more responses. Please tell me if i should be worried or what i should be looking for or something. I don't want to just sit here if i can be doing something to save my flock.

 

[cluckychick]

I would probably start them on Corid, they sound like they have cocci.

 

[I'vegotchickenfever]

I know nothing, and cannot help, but I do wonder though, if it might have something to do with the hay. Don't know if they could cause any bleeding or not, but have you checked for mites? you know...from the hay?

 

[azelgin]

Here is a great site for checking chicken poop:

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=17568

Sounds like you might have cocci starting in.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I would probably start them on Corid, they sound like they have cocci.

I thought the medicated chick start was supposed to prevent that.

I know nothing, and cannot help, but I do wonder though, if it might have something to do with the hay. Don't know if they could cause any bleeding or not, but have you checked for mites? you know...from the hay?

How do i check? What do i look for? Is it normal for hay to bring mites?​

 

[PunkinPeep]

For the benefit of anyone who can make use of this knowledge in the future, i finally found this old post by Speckled Hen.

"If your hen has cocci, Terramycin will do nothing for you, as picklebird said. You need either Corid (concentrated Amprolium) or Sulmet. Sometimes they eat something that can cause red poop that resembles blood, too. If you suspect cocci, I'd do a round of Corid ( there's a brand called Cocci-Rid that is the same thing). If it's cocci, it will fix it. If not, it wont hurt them. All that said, worms can also cause bloody poop if the load is too much for them to tolerate.
For the record, even with medicated feeds, many are experiencing cocci in their younger birds. Dont know what's up with that, but it's happening. I always have to treat for cocci now when I put youngsters on the ground. It's a pain, but cocci is everywhere, or rather the oocysts that cause it, and hard to actually avoid entirely.
Last edited by speckledhen (09/07/2008 10:11 am)
Cynthia
Mountain View Heritage Poultry
((Barred Plymouth Rocks...Blue/Black/Splash Orpingtons...Heritage Delawares))
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=43984"

I was also referred to this page,
http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/poultry-health/coccidiosis.html,
this page,
http://fowlfacts.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=medshhh&action=display&thread=152,
and this page,
http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0.

These helped me decide to go ahead and get some Corid, which cost me $21.39 for a pint at the local feed store. I've started a 5-day treatment of 1 tsp per gallon in their water.

It is now obvious which chick is actually feeling the most effects of the cocci, so i'm praying that she will drink plenty of water and get better. Hopefully i caught it soon enough. At first, i just assumed that it wasn't cocci, since i was using the medicated chick starter. But the more i've read, the more i feel like it is, and i have to do something right now.

Thank you all very much for your input.

And thank you Speckled Hen for your wonderful way of explaining things so i understand them.

Muah!

 

[speckledhen]

You're very welcome.

Glad to help.