Cocci, is it inevitable?

[cluckcluckluke]

Feeding fermented feed and ALWAYS putting vinegar in their drinking water will help to keep them healthy and will help to avoid cocci. Use natural unpasteurized apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 gallon of water.

I use garlic water instead as natural ACV is hard to come by and expensive!

 

[ten chicks]

Feeding fermented feed and ALWAYS putting vinegar in their drinking water will help to keep them healthy and will help to avoid cocci. Use natural unpasteurized apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 gallon of water.

I have not found ACV to prevent Cocci,ACV is definitely good,but does not prevent all 9 strains of Cocci. Coccidiosis is a parasite,not bacterial or viral.

 

[Triple Willow]

Another very important thing is to keep their feeders and waterers clean. And as somebody said before, keep their bedding DRY and clean - also be sure they are not over crowded. Good luck to you all.

 

[Triple Willow]

I use garlic water instead as natural ACV is hard to come by and expensive!

Garlic is good too. Good ACV is expensive. Some who feed it all the time say that they get a gallon of regular ACV, pour out about 1 cup of it, add 1 cup of the good ACV to it, set aside for a while and it will ferment and be as good as the expensive stuff. (Don't seal the lid!) I have a gallon that I have done this to. Not sure just how long it take to ferment. You can also make vinegar from scratch. You could google how to do it. I've read how to make it but I can't remember. Getting old.

 

[mithious]

No,Coccidiosis is always around,spread by birds,bringing it into your flock from new chickens,clothes,shoes,hands,feed utensils,etc. Most birds have some cocci in their sml intestines,only becomes a problem when they have an overload/outbreak,then we medicate to bring it back under control. All chicken keepers should know the signs and symptoms of Cocci,medicate immediately. Medicated starter feed does not prevent cocci,chicks can still have an overload/outbreak. One of the biggest misconceptions about cocci,is that there has to be blood in poop,and that medicated feed prevents cocci,completely wrong. There are 9 strains of Cocci,and only 1 has blood as a symptom. Cocci thrives in warm/moist/damp conditions,ideal brooder habitat. Once chickens have cocci,it is then spread by their droppings,which get into feed/water via droppings. Chickens ONLY build immunity to the strains they have been exposed to.

That is why biosecurity is so important.( and not just for trying to avoid cocci but to help prevent all diseases} Here, it was probably wild birds, as I practice biosecurity, wash my hands before going out to handle birds and after, have boots that are washed before and after entering coop, boots do NOT go anywhere else. Have a set of clothes separate from any others, just for the birds, no one but me goes in the coop, and on and on...any way you can think of a transmission route from the feed store, the fair, chicken swaps, the farm down the road, even Walmart and the grocery store...yes it is everywhere. I should also add, older chickens are less likely to get sick from cocci, although they can and have, as they usually have built a natural immunity to this parasite. so they won't get an overload...from what I have learned, the deep litter method does help build immunities to many things, we never had it named, but did not clean the coop litter all winter, just added to it, they now call it the "deep litter method". I cleaned my brooder box, once every 3-4 days and my coop every 2 weeks in summer, but will start building the litter for winter near early fall ( add as needed )...even then...we never had issues like this back when we had chickens, years ago...don't know why??? But seems that there are more diseases and parasites now than ever. We also bred and raised for immunity, so maybe that was the difference? but I really don't know. I started back in the early 60's with my Daddy, and continued on my own, as my kids were growing up. Never had a problem. Now?....OOF DA....

I am learning things I had no clue about and have been raising and around chickens, since I was two!!!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
Oh, cool!
What is Vinegar used for in chickens?

 

[cluckcluckluke]

So can anyone help me with the symptoms and signs of Cocci and what treatments work best?

 

[mithious]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/811572/if-anyone-is-online-i-need-your-help-asap

Here is what we are going through and lots of great info from lots of people that are helping me...Haunted55 has seen just about everything and been through just about everything, lots of others have great advice and what to look for, how to treat...

 

[Triple Willow]

I have not found ACV to prevent Cocci,ACV is definitely good,but does not prevent all 9 strains of Cocci. Coccidiosis is a parasite,not bacterial or viral.

I believe that if you keep the proper pH balance and a good balance of intestinal flora (with fermented feed and acv) it HELPS to prevent sickness or overgrowth of parasites including cocci and worms. This seems to work for several people. They also say that chicks feather out faster, fecal matter is better formed and does not stink as bad, feed expense is lowered, egg quality is much better, etc, etc.

 

[ten chicks]

I believe that if you keep the proper pH balance and a good balance of intestinal flora (with fermented feed and acv) it HELPS to prevent sickness or overgrowth of parasites including cocci and worms. This seems to work for several people. They also say that chicks feather out faster, fecal matter is better formed and does not stink as bad, feed expense is lowered, egg quality is much better, etc, etc.

I use ACV,and have not found it to be the miracle worker that it is claimed to be. Chickens still get Coccidiosis,worms,and many other illnesses. ACV is good,but do not be fooled into thinking that it is a cure all. I have studied Coccidiosis intensively,and they only way to prevent deaths,is to be knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms
of Cocci and medicate immediately.