coop cleaning question

[coolcanoechic]

My vet checked a fecal sample from one of my girls who is not feeling well. This is what she said.


"Hi Nancy- Marileyn' s feces were LOADED with coccidia parasites, a few round worms too but we should definitely treat for coccidia."

I am going to start medication tomorrow for my girls, but today is when I plan to give the coop a good scrubdown.....Geez, I think I just did this recently for lice! I work full time and today is my day off. This is an all day job for me since I tend to be very thorough.

Is bleach good for killing any coccidia in the coop and run? I checked at my feed store for anything I could use this morning, but came up empty handed. I'm not sure what is most effective for ridding the coop and run of parasites such as coccidia and round worms.

Anyone know if bleach is good?

Thanks!

Nancy

 

[Eggcessive]

Coccidia is out there in all soil, and I lean more toward getting the chickens to be able to build up resistance. Having said that you may need to treat your hen with meds to help her since she is pretty sick now. I would not start bleaching out my coop, but I would read up on deep litter, and how you want bacteria to grow in your litter to help digest manure and provide the good bacteria for the health of the birds. Add some dirt, leaves, grass, or pine needles to your litter. Throw some scratch in and they will mix it in. Add apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoonful per gallon of all their drinking water (this helps with coccidia.) Put some plain yogurt out occasionally. Keeping chickens the old fashioned way like as grandparents did with as little meds as possible is the best way.

 

[Island Roo]

I just had a bird sick with coccidiosis and read all about it. From what I gather most household cleaners and disinfectants will not kill the ocysts.

Most believe amprol (corrid) is the best treatment for the birds.

I separated the sick bird early but treated the whole flock. Made sure there's no standing water around the coop. I cleaned up the coop and put fresh litter down but I don't bother with cleaners.

Everyone is healthy again - I'm just dealing with re-introducing the rooster that was sick back into the flock. The other rooster thinks he boss now.

I would start with ampol asap or you may have a much bigger problem develop. Try to stop this before you have millions of ocysts in the soil.

Good luck.

 

[coolcanoechic]

Thanks so much you guys!
I can be pretty sure it is in the soil everywhere now. She poops all over the place.
I usually keep a very clean coop and run, but my girls go out when I am home to keep an eye on them.
I plan to treat them all and keep apple cider vinigar in the water from now on, now that I know I have a problem. I will also worm them regularly. How often is necessary when there is a problem?
Thanks again!
Nancy

 

[Island Roo]

I've never dealt with worms but a search should find the answer. I pay attention when Dawg talks about worms

 

[coolcanoechic]

I will!

 

[dawg53]

I will!

LOL...not me Nancy! You got alot of excellent advice in this thread. What did the vet give you for the cocci? Amprolium I hope. As far as roundworms go, get you some Safeguard liquid goat wormer. It's not expensive and dose your birds 1/2cc orally undiluted and redose them again in 10 days...that'll be the end of the roundworms.

 

[coolcanoechic]

Wow. Thanks!
I just spoke with my vet and she wants to just treat Marilyn at the moment. Marilyn has been the only one who has shown any signs of being "off". The rest are normal and rambunxious and doing what every normal bird does. They are more likely resistant. Their weights are right in line for large birds. Marilyn is at the bottom of the pecking order and just recently lost her little buddy Gwen to leokosis. She is alone against the others now.
The vet wants to use the amproulim in a pill form which is fine for me. I can get pills down a chicken's throat. I did it for Gwennie when she was sick.
My vet said she was having trouble locating meds and has been working to find them. She found the amprolium in a pill form for me and will be dropping it off tomorrow morning on my doorstep. Did I mention we will be having a huge snowstorm tomorrow? She is the most fantastic vet I have ever seen. She is a mobile vet. She comes to you. She does not charge much, she keeps most medications with her to dispense as needed and she will soon be setting herself up with an emergency type of vehicle to do x-rays and such. She is young and admits she has much to learn about chickens. She said she will be taking schooling from local experts to learn more. She has even been referring to this website to learn as much as she can for chickens. Do I sound like I am advertising? Naaa. I am totally IMPRESSED with her!
Tonight I'm going to add the cider vinigar to the water. Tomorrow, I'll start Marilyn on the meds. The coop is squeaky clean and I think things will improve for Marilyn in the near future. She is holding her own and a little help from the vet should make things much better for her.
I'll check for that goat wormer the next time I go to the feed store. Thanks so much for the info......and YES, you are worthy!

 

[dawg53]

In the meantime give Marilyn some milk to slow the cocci progress until you get the pills tomorrow. The wormer can wait until she gets better. I remember Gwennie. Diagnosed with leukosis...not good, and I know you miss her. Good luck with Marilyn, she'll pull through once she gets the corid in her.

 

[Island Roo]

Leukosis - wow!

My rooster wasn't eating much when he was sick but he liked scrambled egg - in case you're going to spoil your sicky - LOL. I tried yogurt on him too but no interest.