Cocci Help

[Blue]

One of my 4 week old (3 at the time) chicks was showing symptoms of Cocci, droopy wings and very bloody poop. I started treatment on the whole batch of chicks with Sulmet, and I went through the full 6 day dosage schedule following the directions on the bottle. I also started them on medicated feed and gave them some plain yogurt every day, along with adding powdered milk to their feed. Everything seemed to clear up, and the symptoms went away. It's been 4 days since they've been off the Sulmet, and I think I saw a tiny bit of blood in a few of the droppings when I went out to check on them this evening, but it was getting dark, so I'm hoping it was just too dark for me to see clearly, and I was just being paranoid. None of the chicks seemed to be acting sick, so I just turned their shavings, put fresh shavings in their sleeping cage, and will check on them again before I go to work in the morning.

However, if the Cocci is coming back for another round, how soon can I re-dose with the Sulmet, and would I go through the whole dosing schedule from the beginning again? I actually found some Corid at the feed store over the weekend, but the medicated feed I'm giving them now says not to use anything else with Amprollium while using the feed, so I guess that just leaves me with the Sulmet.

 

[TwoCrows]

You can use Corid with medicated feed however you have to give only a lower dosage. I am not sure on when you can start giving meds again, but I would give their systems a break. I once had a female quail with cocci that for the life of me could not cure. So I had to let her heal on her own. She eventually did, but not before tons of blood in the poo. She is alive and well to this day, although a bit runty. But she enjoys life and that is all that matters.

Long story short, don't give up and think all is over. They can heal from cocci even if you can't stop them from being sick. Good luck!

 

[Blue]

Quote:
Thanks! I did notice a bit more blood this morning (definitely blood), so I got a bit freaked out and did add some Sulmet to their water, then I checked this topic after I got to work

( I did give them yogurt and powdered milk to help make it easier on them, so hopefully they'll be okay when I get home). I've never had this happen before, so I think with any other chicks I get, I'll try something I've seen others mention and add a little bowl of soil from outside to their brooder to let them slowly acclimate to it before I put them outside full time. I have a feeling that if I'd done that with this batch of chicks, I wouldn't be having these Cocci problems; this is the first batch of chicks I've ever had to come down with something like this, and it's a bit frustrating as it just doesn't want to go away!

 

[kelar]

If you have the liquid Corid, go ahead and give them a five day dose mixed at 2 teaspoons per gallon of water. It is not uncommon for chicks to reinfect themselves if their bedding is not kept absolutely pristine while undergoing treatment (pretty difficult I know). If you are still seeing symptoms after the dosage with Corid, you can give them another dose of Sulmet in 3 weeks. However, it is generally thought safer to use Sulfadimethoxine instead of Sulmet - the sulfadi is usually available in powder form at farm stores. I'm guessing the first dosage of sulmet helped them enough that their systems are not overwhelmed, but they do build up quickly again.

 

[Blue]

Quote:
I haven't picked up any Corid yet; I saw some at the feed store over the weekend, but I didn't think I'd need it at the time. I should've known.

I can pick some up though. If I use the Corid, do I give them 2 TSP per gallon even if they're on the medicated feed? This is what confused me about the Corid. It's Amprollium, but the medicated feed I picked up said not to give them anything else containing Amprollium while they're on the feed. I usually get non-medicated feed, but the store was out.

The pen that they're in can be cleaned somewhat. I can rake up the majority of the shavings and put fresh ones down; it's a big pen with a dirt bottom, so there's not a lot of disinfecting I can do. Would covering the dirt with a tarp or something and putting the shavings over top of it help at all, or will they build up immunity better if they're exposed to the dirt?

 

[kelar]

They've obviously been exposed now and what you need to do is get them through the crisis while their bodies build up strength and immunity. It's ok to give the Corid while feeding the medicated feed. It's a five day treatment and Corid is quite safe. This will give them a boost of medication that will hopefully prevent them from getting sick again. I'd go ahead and leave them on the dirt with thick shavings on top and keep it as clean and dry as possible. Cocci thrive in moist environments so keeping it dry is probably the most important. Good luck