Coccidiosis in my 8 week old chickens

[Livipedia]

Hi everyone. I have 6 chickens, all 8 weeks old.

When I got them as chicks from the breeder, she said they had all been vaccinated for mareks, but not cocci, so I should get them on a medicated water solution right away (they don't sell medicated feed.) They did fine, and at the end of five weeks, as the bottle directed, I took them off the ampro. They were fine for about a week and then I noticed blood in the stools and they were acting sluggish. Now I'm treating with ampro again, and there is no more blood and the chickens seem fine. I am worried they aren't eating enough, though.

I've never dealt with younger chickens before, so I am clueless as to what to do. Is this going to come back every time I take them off the meds?

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have them on the ground now? It takes until from age 11 to 20 weeks for chickens to develop immunity from coccidiosis. I have never had coccidiosis in my chicks before, but I put a piece of sod from my chicken yard in with baby chicks from day 1--they play with it, chew it, and get exposed gradually to cocci. Those who do recommend preventative treatment usually do it every 3 weeks at the preventative dose until a certain age. Make sure that when you complete a treatment that you give your chickens probiotics and vitamins for a few days afterward to help their gut bacteria. Keep all feeders and waterers free of poo. Here are 2 good links on dosage for prevention and on the disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/818879/updated-corid-and-amprol-amprolium-dosing
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html

 

[Michael Apple]

Hi everyone. I have 6 chickens, all 8 weeks old.

When I got them as chicks from the breeder, she said they had all been vaccinated for mareks, but not cocci, so I should get them on a medicated water solution right away (they don't sell medicated feed.) They did fine, and at the end of five weeks, as the bottle directed, I took them off the ampro. They were fine for about a week and then I noticed blood in the stools and they were acting sluggish. Now I'm treating with ampro again, and there is no more blood and the chickens seem fine. I am worried they aren't eating enough, though.

I've never dealt with younger chickens before, so I am clueless as to what to do. Is this going to come back every time I take them off the meds?

It is wise to use a preventative dose of Amprolium beginning at 2-3 weeks up until at least 7 months of age. Cocci oocysts can sporulate and become airborne, or naturally occur in droppings, so they don't need to come in contact with soil to ingest the protozoa. What happens is intestinal damage if left untreated for too long, and enteritis happens. They lose appetite, and enough damage will kill the birds as they dehydrate, and starve themselves.

They should be dosed with the preventative amount of 1 tsp if it is 9.6% liquid, or 1/2 tsp if it is 20% powder per gallon of water, every 3 weeks, 5 days in a row. After the last day of preventative treatment with Amprolium, it is wise to use vitamin and probiotic dispersible powder in waterers for 3 days.

Here's an article I suggest you read: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1138/coccidiosis-control

Good luck. I hope you get things under control.

 

[casportpony]

Hi everyone. I have 6 chickens, all 8 weeks old.

When I got them as chicks from the breeder, she said they had all been vaccinated for mareks, but not cocci, so I should get them on a medicated water solution right away (they don't sell medicated feed.) They did fine, and at the end of five weeks, as the bottle directed, I took them off the ampro. They were fine for about a week and then I noticed blood in the stools and they were acting sluggish. Now I'm treating with ampro again, and there is no more blood and the chickens seem fine. I am worried they aren't eating enough, though.

I've never dealt with younger chickens before, so I am clueless as to what to do. Is this going to come back every time I take them off the meds?

FDA recommendations:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/details.cfm?dn=013-149
"Chickens
Indications: For the treatment of coccidiosis.
Amount: Administer at the 0.012 percent level in drinking water as soon as coccidiosis is diagnosed and continue for 3 to 5 days (in severe outbreaks, give amprolium at the 0.024 percent level); continue with 0.006 percent amprolium-medicated water for an additional 1 to 2 weeks."

And this link has these instructions:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html
"Poultry - as Soon As Caecal Coccidiosis Is Diagnosed, Give 0.024% Amprolium In The Drinking Water For 5 To 7 Days. Continue The Treatment With 0.006% Amprolium Medicated Water For An Additional One To Two Weeks. No Other Source Of Drinking Water Should Be Available To The Birds During This Time."

The preventative dose (.006%) for Corid Powder is 1/3 teaspoon.
The preventative dose (.006%) for Corid liquid is 1/2 teaspoon.

The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid Powder is 3/4 teaspoon.
The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid liquid is 1 teaspoon.

The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid Powder is 1.5 teaspoons
The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid liquid is 2 teaspoon.

More info here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/818879/updated-corid-and-amprol-amprolium-dosing

-Kathy

 

[ten chicks]

You probably have not been using the severe outbreak dose,this is why chicks have not been able to overcome coccidiosis overload. Kathy has posted the dose you should be using.

 

[Livipedia]

Thanks everyone, I'll keep up with the treatment and keeping their immunity up. They seem to be doing much better.