Sarah from Olympia
In the Brooder
- Oct 2, 2020
- 3
- 0
- 12
I have a flock of 5, 13-wk old pullets and 4, 9-wk old chicks (I'm not clear on where chicks end and pullets begin 
. Brannnnd new chicken owner! One of the older flock members had diarhea that progressed to liquid blood splatters coming out with the diarhea. No one has been acting anything other than healthy and I spend a lot of time with them as I am working virtually.
I called a local feed store, read Gail Damerow's SUPER great book on chicken health, read posts on the interwebs, and decided it is more likely coccidiosis than coecal material. Treated with 2 tsp. liquid Corid per one gallon water, mixed fresh daily - for 5 days. I did another 3 days at 1tsp. per gallon. I feed them Payback Organic Chick Starter Crumble. I started hanging both waterer and feeder at back height of the pullets (bleach once a week), remove all droppings on a daily basis, change out pine shavings litter once per week (I add diatomaceous earth when changing, for mites and such) and let them range their fenced in 1/8th of an acre all day so they aren't pecking around in the coop.
The sick chicken(s) responded to the treatment - I saw the blood resolve. I stopped the Corid about 5 days ago. Since I stopped the Corid, I've been giving them chick probiotics/vitamins in their waterer to help build up good gut flora and replenish any nutrients. But the diahrea and some blood is back and one of the younger ones has it now too.
From Damerow's book, it appears that Coccidiosis is a self-limiting disease and by using preventative measures alongside the Corid treatment, it should clear up. So, what am I missing? Is it not Coccidiosis? Do I need to bleach my coop, which was inherited from the previous homeowners? (I power-washed and soap-cleaned it, but never bleached and I'm realizing that may have been really stupid).
If I can figure out which chicken has the bloody poops, I can take them (and a fecal sample) to the vet appointment I scheduled for 10/21 (soonest I can get in). I have all sorts of fears dancing in my head: what if the flock dies? What if even just one dies - I don't want to have to have that happen YET - I just started out! What if I have sickly chickens now who will never lay? Experienced insight is so very appreciated!!!
. Brannnnd new chicken owner! One of the older flock members had diarhea that progressed to liquid blood splatters coming out with the diarhea. No one has been acting anything other than healthy and I spend a lot of time with them as I am working virtually. I called a local feed store, read Gail Damerow's SUPER great book on chicken health, read posts on the interwebs, and decided it is more likely coccidiosis than coecal material. Treated with 2 tsp. liquid Corid per one gallon water, mixed fresh daily - for 5 days. I did another 3 days at 1tsp. per gallon. I feed them Payback Organic Chick Starter Crumble. I started hanging both waterer and feeder at back height of the pullets (bleach once a week), remove all droppings on a daily basis, change out pine shavings litter once per week (I add diatomaceous earth when changing, for mites and such) and let them range their fenced in 1/8th of an acre all day so they aren't pecking around in the coop.
The sick chicken(s) responded to the treatment - I saw the blood resolve. I stopped the Corid about 5 days ago. Since I stopped the Corid, I've been giving them chick probiotics/vitamins in their waterer to help build up good gut flora and replenish any nutrients. But the diahrea and some blood is back and one of the younger ones has it now too.
From Damerow's book, it appears that Coccidiosis is a self-limiting disease and by using preventative measures alongside the Corid treatment, it should clear up. So, what am I missing? Is it not Coccidiosis? Do I need to bleach my coop, which was inherited from the previous homeowners? (I power-washed and soap-cleaned it, but never bleached and I'm realizing that may have been really stupid).
If I can figure out which chicken has the bloody poops, I can take them (and a fecal sample) to the vet appointment I scheduled for 10/21 (soonest I can get in). I have all sorts of fears dancing in my head: what if the flock dies? What if even just one dies - I don't want to have to have that happen YET - I just started out! What if I have sickly chickens now who will never lay? Experienced insight is so very appreciated!!!
