Coccidiosis OR intestinal lining? Please help!

[Svaness]

Hi!
I posted a picture along with this but my camera quality isn't so great so I'll try to be descriptive. I have 2 6 week old pullets. Their behavior and habits are completely normal. I have however noticed some dropping that have some red/orange tinge. The entire stool is normal except for small bits of this coloured stuff. Could it be coccidiosis or cocci or is it just one of then shedding their intestinal lining? They eat a diet mainly consisting of chick starter with only spinach and little bits of grass as treat occasionally .
Any help here would be greatly appreciated ps. The ashes and hair is from the ground. I dropped the poop.:/

 

[casportpony]

Poops like that in mine are never normal. If they were mine I would treat for worms and coccidiosis.

 

[Hamiam]

Looks like intestinal lining to me. Normal.

 

[Svaness]

Poops like that in mine are never normal. If they were mine I would treat for worms and coccidiosis.

Can I treat for both worms and coccidiosis simultaneously or one then the other? And at what age do they begin shedding intestinal lining?

 

[Hamiam]

@casportpony is the poop inspector, I’d follow her directions

 

[casportpony]

I was just wondering, has anyone ever seen a veterinary reference that says any amount of intestinal lining is normal? Or is this just something that the various forums and blogs created?

I know that it's not normal in my flock, and when I see it means something is wrong with one of mine. Example, I have a young pullet that passed a little. She looks and acts 100% normal. However, she's not gaining much weight as she should. I weighed her and her buddy a few days ago, she weighed 630 grams, her buddy weighed 800 grams. Today she weighs 634 grams and her buddy weighs 870 grams. So her lack of gain and her odd poop tells me there is something going on.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've mainly seen it mentioned in blogs that intestinal shedding is "normal". IF I notice it only once, then I just watch my birds.

I did see some similar to what was posted above in my youngsters. I treated with Corid based on the poop and their behavior, some were a bit droopy, not eating quite as much as I though they should - granted it was hot, humid and/or rainy, but still....Since all mine are integrated and water stations are shared, everyone including my adults got Corid. After a couple of days the youngsters were much more active even during the heat of the day.

 

[coach723]

I was just wondering, has anyone ever seen a veterinary reference that says any amount of intestinal lining is normal? Or is this just something that the various forums and blogs created?

I know that it's not normal in my flock, and when I see it means something is wrong with one of mine. Example, I have a young pullet that passed a little. She looks and acts 100% normal. However, she's not gaining much weight as she should. I weighed her and her buddy a few days ago, she weighed 630 grams, her buddy weighed 800 grams. Today she weighs 634 grams and her buddy weighs 870 grams. So her lack of gain and her odd poop tells me there is something going on.

Good point, and my answer is no, I've never found anything except anecdotal comments on blogs, or references to other blogs. I've always kind of operated on the theory of if I see it once, it's not a lot, and everyone looks OK, I watch to see if I see it again. If I see it more I treat.
I'm now reconsidering that since I know I have a recurring roundworm issue in my flock, I wonder if that is an early sign, even if everyone looks fine. I'm pretty familiar with symptoms of coccidiosis, and haven't lost a bird to that in several years because I treat right away, but maybe the other parasites are giving me more hints that I'm not paying enough attention to. I know that many species shed epithelial cells in the digestive tract, including humans, but we don't see something like that in us and consider it normal and not pay attention. Soooo......maybe I need to worm more often if I'm seeing this in any amount.......food for thought. Mine are due for a worming, so I'm going to watch closely for a bit to see what I see, and then really pay attention afterward to see any changes. And I will do this for several wormings to see if I learn anything.

 

[Svaness]

Not sure about credibility here but this was an interesting discussion.

https://lifestyleblock.co.nz/forum/your-place/32764-hens-shedding-intestinal-lining

 

[Eggcessive]

Can I treat for both worms and coccidiosis simultaneously or one then the other? And at what age do they begin shedding intestinal lining?

Others may have different opinions, but I would treat first with Corid for possible coccidiosis, then treat with some probiotics and vitamins for a few days. Then if everyone is looking normal, eating, and no blood in poops, you could treat individually for worms with something like Valbazen or SafeGuard that get most chicken worms.