Cocci - Resolved - Thanks!

[Reyvaughn]

I went to check on the 6-7wk olds in the coop today since it was rainy and I worked and couldn't spend time with them yesterday. Everyone looked fine and was up running around. After doing my morning duties and going to TSC (bad idea- I came home w/ 6 more chicks), we got home and put up a better, more permanent run for the 'coop' chicks. Afterward, I let the 'coop chicks' all out and decided it was time to introduce my 5-5 1/2wk old EEs to the clan. I needed the room in the porch brooder for the 5 BRs and 5 PRs that were in my living room - and the new 6 can go in the living room brooder with the 10 SSs.

Anyways, I went out to sit and watch to make sure nothing attacks my chicks and I notice one of my BLH pullets has hanging wings. Then the hunching started... She was still foraging, but she was literally turning pale in front of my eyes. I was ticked that I just introduced the EEs and then this... I have them on liquid Sulmet, 2tbsps per gallon of drinking water. I have everyone in the coop on it.

My questions are...
- The bottle says it takes only 2-3days to work, but continue to medicate for another 2-3days after symptoms leave. I thought I was supposed to medicate for 10 days? Any thoughts?
- Do I have to disinfect the coop? I don't even understand why she has it. She has a dry coop, it's clean and it's not over crowded. It has been very rainy here, though...
- If she isn't getting picked on, do I have to separate her? She's still roosting with everyone else and as I said, eating and drinking. I think I caught it literally just as the symptoms were starting.

 

[Judy]

Cocci live in the soil, in larger numbers in wet areas. They've no doubt all been exposed at this point; it's a matter of numbers. Some say to separate. Personally I'd be more concerned about keeping poop out of their feed and water, and plenty of clean litter.

Corid is usually a better choice for treatment than Sulmet. For one thing, Sulmet is rough on their intestines. Certainly I wouldn't stop the Sulmet until I got the Corid, if you are going to switch. I don't know about the 10 days.

Some powdered milk might help. Here are two good threads:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=368508

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=461910

 

[Reyvaughn]

Yeah, see, that's what I don't get. They've only been outside 4x and she wasn't out the day before. The coop isn't extremely dirty (I scrape it down to bare wood every 4 days - 6x8 coop with 13 6/7wk olds), doesn't smell and is ventilated. My feeders are raised and clean. I mean, I know, it's common. I just thought I had done a good job at keeping it at bay with my management. I will say that I haven't seen any bloody poop yet.

I will be going to get Corrid tomorrow. I read that Corrid is over used and isn't as effective as Sulmet and someone suggested using Sulmet from the start. Now I wish I had read more - they won't be on Sulmet now if I had.
I have a ton of powdered milk, I will get some of that out there for them.

 

[nnbreeder]

Why not just use medicated feed? Why are you treating without having a problem?

 

[speckledhen]

Sulmet is harder on their intestines than Corid. And it is not effective on the worst type of cocci. Sulmet actually will keep intestines bleeding longer since it's a sulfa drug. When I used Sulmet, I'd have to treat and retreat. With Corid, five days and it was gone.

Cocci is in the gut of the bird and in the soil and it's not unusual to have an outbreak at the age of your chicks, regardless of cleanliness. Most folks who've seen my flocks will tell you that my coops are pretty clean and the birds' water is always cleaned out and kept fresh. Cocci just happens and you just watch for signs and treat it when it does.

 

[Reyvaughn]

Quote:
1) I chose not to use medicated feed for personal reasons - mainly I felt I didn't have to "treat without having a problem". You don't give your kids antibiotics when they aren't sick. Plus, from my BYC reading, I thought not giving them medicated feed helps them build an immunity.
2) I DO have a problem...

...I notice one of my BLH pullets has hanging wings. Then the hunching started... She was still foraging, but she was literally turning pale in front of my eyes.

Thanks, Speckledhen. Yeah, they will get switched over tomorrow after I pick some Corrid up!​

 

[speckledhen]

Medicated feed does not guarantee against cocci--mine always have medicated feed because that's all I can get here, but they always get cocci. Now, chicks raised by a broody who are on the ground from a few days old never get it. Interesting, but true.

 

[purpletree23]

Hi Rayvaugn....My hens are two years old and one of them was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with Cocci. I too thought it was a chick disease and my coop is always clean and dry and the girls get good food and a few treats. The vet said she probably picked it up because we were having wet weather and the mile high snow drifts were melting and one day the temp was in the 50's and the next it was in the 20's. He said any stress would bring on an overpopulation of the protozoa.

Corid works like a charm.

I feel horrible that she had runny poops and a dirty butt for 2 weeks, I thought she had a yeast infection and was treating her with warm tush baths, Monistat cream and yogurt. Again I thought only chicks got cocci. I'm glad I took her to the vet.

 

[speckledhen]

Adults can get cocci, 'tis true, though it's not the norm. Glad your situation is resolved.