Cocci questions from a Newbie trying not to worry too much

[2DogsFarm]

I just read through 9 pages of searched info on bloody poop on this forum and am thinking at least one of my new pullets may have coccidiosis.

All are eating & drinking and not acting sick, but the one in question pooped mucusy blood (in front of me, so I know it's hers) twice this morning. I've had them since Saturday and no other sign of not-normal poop in the coop.

I did manage to pick up & examine this pullet and her vent seemed clean and normal.

They haven't been out of their coop and the coop, although formerly used for poultry, has been vacant for the 5 years I've lived here.
I cleaned thoroughly, including wiping down with bleach solution, before bringing these pullets home.

They are bedded on pine shavings, waterer is raised about 5" above the coop floor and hasn't been contaminated with droppings (refilled with fresh water yesterday), feeder is hung from the ceiling and also remains poop-free.

In an attempt to get them friendlier I have been experimenting with treats and so far nothing has had a WOW effect, but all have been eaten:
grass clippings
yogurt - plain mixed with some of their crumbles & fed daily
Cheerios
crimped oats (fed as scratch)

Should I try adding Corid/Amprolium to their water (can pickup from TSC this morning)?

 

[LynneP]

How old are the birds?

I'd feed only their commercial ration for now.
Pick up the meds to have on hand, stop feeding treats except yogurt mixed with their feed, ans see if the bleeding stops (might be sharp blades of grass irritating the intestinal mucosa).

Good article on cocci-

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616

And be sure the bedding and run are dry and clean, cocci thrive in damp contaminated areas. You are starting on new ground, which is excellent, so I'm hoping this is a red flag and nothing more. There is a chance the birds arrived with some cocci, not as severe a problem in adults if treated immediately, but very deadly in chicks.

 

[THough1956]

I just went through this myself. If it is cocci, blood is the bad stage. Mine got bad very quickly and I lost 8 chicks. I had a hard time finding it but I used Sulmet. Get some, start treating now!! Clorox their area if you can and the feeders, fresh bedding daily. Give yogurt or cottage cheese. Don't wait for this to get worse, you will have high casulties. I am just now getting mine under check.

these were chicks I hatched in my incubator, but before I had some other chickens in this area, I am sure that is where the cocci came from.

 

[Judy]

Are you feeding medicated feed? If so, what is it medicated with?

 

[speckledhen]

Even with medicated feed, mine get cocci, no matter how great the sanitation, etc. It depends on what is in your soil. First we do need to know how old they are, but in the event that you decide it is cocci, don't worry, but try to get some Corid (liquid concentrated Amprolium) ASAP and treat them with that for a week or so. If you can't find that, you can use Sulmet, which get all except one type of cocci.

 

[2DogsFarm]

Sorry all - I thought I had included their age in my post - they are just 9wks old.

I haven't put them outside yet - still keeping them in the coop but maybe with the screened door open they got something blown in.
I also gave them a pan of sand to dustbathe in and I'll remove that in case they ate some or it carried some dirt.

I'll clean out the bedding and put down fresh shavings and stop all treat experiments except the yougrt mixed with crumbles.

I'm not sure if the feed is medicated, feedstore sold me bulk grower crumbles from their own stock so I'll stop in tomorrow and ask if it is medicated.

TSC closest to me did not have the Corid, but is having a bottle sent from another store which I can pick up Saturday.

Would it be okay to put the Corid in their water for a week as a precaution?

Thanks for helping me out - I really want to do right by these babies.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
the doses are different for if you're medicating as a precaution or your treating an outbreak.

i would personally probably decide that it's an outbreak. imho, it is unlikely that the treats you're giving them would cause that intestinal response at that age. ..and i would treat the whole flock with a good strong dose of Corid. obviously, i'm not there, but i would not be inclined to do the low dose. my chicks are on the medicated feed and got it anyway. i medicated for 5 days at the first indication, and now everyone is healthy.

in any case, i would definitely go ahead and get the Corid.

those are just my thoughts.

blessings.

 

[2DogsFarm]

Emergency seems to have passed - after poop inspection this morning no more bloody poop found and the pullet that passed the blood yesterday pooped a nice normal one right in front of me.

I'm still going to give them all a round of Corid just to make sure.

Thanks for all your answers & knowledge, I'm sure you can expect more hysterical questions as my mini-flock grows up.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
I'm definitely still a newbie too, and everyone here is always great with all my questions. Don't be afraid to ask whatever comes to mind. Also, sometimes when you have a question in the middle of the night (or any other time), i have found that most of my questions have been asked and answered multiple times in the past. So i'm trying to learn to use the search function better.

It's really helpful, though, to have people talking you through things as it happens to YOU.

Ok. i'm rambling now.

Welcome to the chicken life and byc.