confused about cocci and developed imunity

[chicktwins]

I had mine vaccinated at the hatchery. Does this vaccine always protect them from it or do I still need to be concerned once they are exposed to it outside?

 

[nickie]

There's a cocci vaccine?

 

[PtldChick]

The vaccine at hatcheries is usually for Marek's disease, something different. I've read there is a vaccine fro cocci that you spray on their food or feet, but don't know much more than that or where to get it. There are nine different cocci strains that affect chickens in different parts of the GI tract and at different ages. Four or five of them are more dangerous than the others. I have no idea if the vaccine protects against all nine or just a few.

Myth #1: Medicated feed is mostly necessary for large commercial operations, not backyard flocks. False. Anyone's chickens can get cocci as it is everywhere. The hope is for chicks to build up an immunity while they grow. Medicated feed can help them do that by providing a small amount of medication (amprolium) that helps them ward off cocci without dying.

A little over a week ago, some of my chicks came down with cocci, I believe from a few new ones I brought in. All in all, nine birds got sick and two more were in contact with a sick one. And two that I had given to a friend also got sick. I treated all of mine, including the older healthy ones, with Sulmet. All are fine, and perked up within a day or two. I believe the medicated feed helped them survive as they already had either an immunity, or some meds in their system keeping the cocci from developing as rapidly. They had the full gamut of symptoms, including bloody poop.

Myth#2: Medicated feed will prevent your chickens from getting cocci. False. The amount of medication in feed is less than in the Corid dosage. It can help a chick survive cocci, rather than succumbing. I have read so many threads where people's chicks or chickens drop dead within 24 hours or less. I am very glad mine were on medicated feed before they got sick.

I will continue to use medicated feed as I am not concerned about being organic. I also have learned the hard way about not quarantining/isolating new chicks/chickens that are not hatchery stock or have been living outside.

I am intrigued with the idea of bringing in dirt from the adult coop to help build immunity. That may be something I try another time in addition to the medicated feed.

It's up to the individual whether to use medicated or not. Although I like the idea of using non-medicated, my recent experience has convinced me it's worth being a little less 'natural'. It was hard enough nursing nine sick chickens that perked up quickly. Having them sicker for longer or having some die would have been tough.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[nickie]

Wow, thanks bunches for all that. So do you recommend Sulmet or Corid? Again, where can I find them?

 

[PtldChick]

I used Sulmet, but many on this forum recommend using Corid first, then Sulmet if it doesn't work. I've read conflicting posts on which kills more types of Cocci. Sulmet is a sulfa drug and is harder on their system. I used it because the feed store and the local chicken store both recommended it. If you use Sulmet, I believe the recommendation is to stop the medicated feed while using it since it contains the ingredient in Corid and you shouldn't mix meds. That's what I did, anyway.

I wish there were one place where all the cocci info needed could be found.

Leanne

 

[gryeyes]

I DO provide medicate feed for my chicks, and they get it for two to three weeks after they have gone outside into their grow-out coop, regardless of their ages. That way, they are receiving the Amprolium WHILE they are being exposed to any that may be in the soil outside.

In the past, I fed it to them for 8 to 10 weeks and then changed them to grower/finisher (which is what the entire adult flock eats, even the layers). But once I didn't get them out of the brooder into a grow out coop until they were 13 weeks old, and I'd stopped the medicated feed at 10 weeks, maybe even earlier. Stupid move.

Within two weeks, during a really nasty rainy period (cocci thrives in dampness) the youngsters all got very very sick and I lost 10 of them within two days. I would have lost more had I not started treating the entire flock with Corrid V (which I buy at the feed store).

I don't provide layer feed, but I do provide crushed oyster shell free choice for the layers that may need it. So, basically, all my flock gets is medicated chick feed for up to 3 weeks after they have "gone outside" and grower/finisher - "All Flock," by Nutrena - for the rest of their lives. Oyster shell available all the time.

 

[Judy]

This is two threads and a university writeup that tells most of the story, anyway.

http://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/ahp/disease_links/images/coccidia.pdf

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

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

 

[csummer8882]

I just got mine off of medicated feed as was recommended at 8 weeks to switch to grower feed. Mine just got switched last week.