Coccidiosis in our flock! :(

[KinTiN]

I discovered yesterday that some of our newer chicks have Coccidiosis. They were in a cage within the main coop and three of them have died. We removed the cage, chicks, and removed all hay and litter from underneath the cage; however, my husband and I do not know how to keep this from spreading to the rest of the flock. We have over 100 birds. We added Oregano oil to their water supply since this is all we have available right now, but I will be heading into town today to pick up whatever is needed. The only issue is that my husband does not want antibiotics that are not organic/non-gmo since his flock is for meat and eggs. Any advice is welcomed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I found a bloody poop in with my 8-week old chicks last week. I got some liquid Corid and treated them for five days, as advised here on BYC, adding 2 tsp of the liquid to a gallon of water, making a fresh batch every day, and providing no other water during treatment. Is Corid an antibiotic? I don't know. Is it organic or GMO? I don't know that either. I only know that the alternative to treatment is that my chicks could die. These are future layers, not meaties, and I have no worries that this treatment could affect their future eggs. If they were meaties I also wouldn't worry about it, I just wouldn't butcher immediately after treatment. I believe the Corid would be quickly metabolized, but I would ask here to find out how long to wait before processing.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Corid is not an antibiotic. I believe that it does something with stopping vitamin B12 which feeds the coccidiosis.
@azygous

 

[KinTiN]

Thiamin is B1.

 

[nuthatched]

Corid is not an antibiotic, it's a thiamine inhibitor and they desperately need it.
Adding oregano oil won't help and is still giving them antibiotics. Natural or not, antibiotics are antibiotics.

In certified organic Husbandry, if the care givers do not provide effective treatment for illness or infection in order to maintain their organic status, they're are charged with neglect.
He's some more information on organic farming that might be handy to you.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Poultry - Guidelines.pdf Taken from that link.. "Prohibited -Withholding medical treatment from a sick animal to maintain organic status" http://www.usfarad.org/treating-layers.html https://aldf.org/article/egg-labeling-regulations-guide/ Drug residues in eggs.. http://www.farad.org/publications/digests/122015EggResidue.pdf

 

[The Coop Crew]

Corid is not an antibiotic, it's a thiamine inhibitor and they desperately need it.
Adding oregano oil won't help and is still giving them antibiotics. Natural or not, antibiotics are antibiotics.

In certified organic Husbandry, if the care givers do not provide effective treatment for illness or infection in order to maintain their organic status, they're are charged with neglect.
He's some more information on organic farming that might be handy to you.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Poultry - Guidelines.pdf Taken from that link.. "Prohibited -Withholding medical treatment from a sick animal to maintain organic status" http://www.usfarad.org/treating-layers.html https://aldf.org/article/egg-labeling-regulations-guide/ Drug residues in eggs.. http://www.farad.org/publications/digests/122015EggResidue.pdf

Thank you! I knew it had something to do with B vitamins but I’m new at chicken keeping

 

[coach723]

Yes, thiamine is B1, it's a common typo.
Corid (amprolium) is not an antibiotic, it's very safe. It causes the coccidia to not be able to metabolize thiamine, which is what they feed on, so the coccidia starve and die. I would start your chicks on it right away. Coccidiosis is deadly. Treat them all, symptomatic or not, it can spread quickly and they have all been exposed. The birds that were already on your property, and mature, are likely already resistant to whatever strains you have and won't get sick unless weakened by something else. Chicks are very susceptible and it's not uncommon. The faster treatment is started the better chance they will recover. Those that recover will be resistant to whatever strains you have.
Dosing for Corid is 1 1/2 tsp of the powder or 2 tsp of the liquid per gallon of water for 5 -7 days. Make fresh daily and make sure it's the only water they have access to. For any that are not eating or drinking, are lethargic, or that you know have bloody droppings, give them an oral dose also, in addition to the medicated water, for up to 3 days, that will help get the meds in them so they can work.
Dosing for that is here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/
IF your other birds display any symptoms, then I would treat them also, but they may be fine.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Thiamin is B1.

Thanks for the clarification. That’s why I said “I believe” because I wasn’t 100% sure.

 

[KinTiN]

We've lost 4 chicks, (total), but so far the last two seem to be active and eating. I haven't seen any bloody stools since shortly after starting them on the Corid water. I'm also treating the other birds just in case they were exposed. So far I haven't seen any bloody stools in the runs or the coops and they all seem quite active.

When would it be okay to bring these two chicks back to the main coop?

Also, should I continue all of them on a lower dose of the Corid after the initial 5-7 days?

 

[coach723]

I personally don't usually do a second week at a lower dose. But if they are very slow to recover, then you might. Up to you. They should be fine to come back once treatment is complete.