bloody poop?

[GardenTeacher]

Hi all,

My ten lovely girls (and maybe one boy. oops.) are just over nine weeks old and doing great. Or at least I thought. Today as I was cleaning up I found some bloody something in somebody's poop. Not sure who it belongs to. I saw some blood in poop a few weeks ago when they were younger and I was concerned then but since they've been doing well, growing fast and seeming really happy!

Is there a cocci infection that is going unchecked?! Help! What should I do?

 

[GardenTeacher]

Oh! Also, it occurs to me that they do eat quite a few earthworms that I dig out of the compost. Maybe I am confusing earthworm parts with bloody poop?

 

[Eggcessive]

Just to be on the safe side I would get some Corid (amprollium, ampromed) at the farm store to have at home. What you saw may be intestinal shed, but if they look at all lethargic, or puffed up looking ill, or if you see more blood in the stools, I would start the Corid right away. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid (or 2.5 tsp of the powder) per gallon of water for 5 days as the only source of water, and treat all birds at the same time.

 

[GardenTeacher]

But I've read that treating unnecessarily could be more detrimental than helpful, right? Should I bother getting it tested?

 

[Eggcessive]

Everyone has differing opinions, but Corid is pretty safe even if a chicken does not have coccidiosis, and it does no damage. But you run the risk of waiting, and the disease can kill pretty quickly depending on which strain. They are infected for 3 days before symptoms start. Coccidiosis can damage the gut where future weight gain and egg laying may be affected. Since it is not an antibiotic, I wouldn't hesitate to use it. All chickens have cocci in their intestines by 3 weeks of age, but they have to be exposed to it to build up immunity. When they get an overload, that is when they get very sick. Finding Corid or Ampromed when you need it sometimes is hard if the farm store is out of it. At the first sign of more blood, or any lethargic or puffed up chicks, I would start it.

 

[cafarmgirl]

X2 what Eggcessive said. The danger of waiting and not treating with Corid is a very high probability of dead chicks, potentially many dead chicks. Corid has no effect if there is not an overload of coccidia protozoa but if they do have it, it will put a stop to the overgrowth and prevent death. It's well worth it. You can get a fecal sample tested if you want to spend the time and money but while you are doing that you are loosing time. Coccidiosis moves very fast. A chick that's alive in the morning may be dead by afternoon. To me it's just not worth it when the fix is safe and easy.