Different strains of coccidia? Please help!

[TheJeweledHorn]

I help manage a flock of about 35 adult birds and around 100 pullets, all Columbian Wyandottes. This past week they started showing acute signs of illness like bloody, muscousy diarrhea along with extreme feather loss, being underweight, and being lethargic. The adults have always had feather loss and poor feather health problems and I'm ashamed to say that I got used to how they look and didn't question my boss' methods. When I started finding dead pullets and over thirty of them seemed ill I took a step back and realized things were very bad.

When I took a sample of them to an avian vet, they tested the feces and there was no sign of coccidia.

I, the vet, and two other experts think that the birds are malnourished and that's causing their symptoms, and am trying to make the case for them getting fed better.

My boss still wants to treat for coccidia and says there are multiple strains (there are) but that tests can show some strains and not the other. I called the vet office back and asked what strain they tested for, and they said that ANY coccidia strain would show up in their tests because they only look for eggs in the feces.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Are different tests required for different strains of coccidia, or would they all show eggs in the feces like the vet stated?

Thanks so much. Please help me get the knowledge to help these birds get what they need.



EDIT: I called another avian vet that sees chickens and they stated that there are NOT different tests for different strains of coccidia, but that birds don't always shed coccidia in every stool - it's possible that the three I took in for testing just didn't shed coccidia in their multiple poops?

 

[ten chicks]

I help manage a flock of about 35 adult birds and around 100 pullets, all Columbian Wyandottes. This past week they started showing acute signs of illness like bloody, muscousy diarrhea along with extreme feather loss, being underweight, and being lethargic. The adults have always had feather loss and poor feather health problems and I'm ashamed to say that I got used to how they look and didn't question my boss' methods. When I started finding dead pullets and over thirty of them seemed ill I took a step back and realized things were very bad.

When I took a sample of them to an avian vet, they tested the feces and there was no sign of coccidia.

I, the vet, and two other experts think that the birds are malnourished and that's causing their symptoms, and am trying to make the case for them getting fed better.

My boss still wants to treat for coccidia and says there are multiple strains (there are) but that tests can show some strains and not the other. I called the vet office back and asked what strain they tested for, and they said that ANY coccidia strain would show up in their tests because they only look for eggs in the feces.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Are different tests required for different strains of coccidia, or would they all show eggs in the feces like the vet stated?

Thanks so much. Please help me get the knowledge to help these birds get what they need.

This is very strange,these are all classic symptoms of Coccidiosis. These poor birds look terrible. Cocci is a parasitic infection of the intestinal tract,spread by droppings which get into feed/water via droppings. Most birds have some cocci in their sml intestines,only a problem if they get an overload,then we medicate to bring it back under control. Some symptoms of Cocci are,runny/watery poop(may or may not contain blood,depending on which of the 9 strains it is)fluffed feathers,lethargic,weight loss,not eating/drinking properly.Cocci can kill very fast. If symptoms match,purchase Corid(amprolium)dose for Corid 20% powder is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water,dose for Corid 9.6% liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water. Treat ALL chickens for 5-7 days,do not give vitamins during treatment(interferes with medication)give vitamins after treatment. I would also do a follow up treatment in 2 weeks for 3 days,to make sure cocci in under control.

I would also suggest proper feed,appropriate for age of chickens,vitamins and check them all for mites/lice,look under wings,base of tail feathers,around vent area. I feel awful for these birds,they are in terrible shape and look very neglected. I try to not be judgemental,but this is appalling neglect and these birds are suffering. Someone needs to do something fast!

 

[TheJeweledHorn]

I agree it's appalling - thank you very much for the info!