Help: Coccidiosis?

[Esinem]

A couple of days ago, I discovered the rear end of our Sussex covered in blood and one of the others pecking at it. I was expecting to see a prolapse as it has happened before (pushed back in and treated with hemorrhoid cream, but not recently), possibly since she lays such big eggs, but no. It was hard to tell if the source of the bleeding was from the cloaca or a peck wound I discovered. Anyway, I cleaned her up with water with a bit of antiseptic and kept her separate till the next day by which time the bleeding had cleared up. She didn't seem to get pecked any more.

She appeared to be OK, if a little lack lustre, with no further bleeding but possibly diarrhoea. I put her being off colour as being a result of what ever caused the bleeding. She was feeding but not as enthusiastically as usual. We let them out of the coop to forage in the compost bin (we open the door on the side so they can access it) as it is teeming with woodlice and worms and they go crazy for them. She is normally the one jumps in and scratches out the compost but yesterday she was just pecking around. This morning, I found her dead (no more blood) on the floor of the coop. No signs of any issues with the others.

As a precaution, to treat the others, I ordered (same day delivery) Petlife Harkers Coxoid Coccidiosis as it seems from my reading that this could be the cause. I guess it can't do any harm if I'm wrong.

Advice welcome

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. I would be a bit concerned about the compost bin, and a possibility of botulism, unrelated to the bleeding. Without a necropsy or observing progressive paralysis of the body, it would be hard to say if that was the cause. Amprollium (Coxoid, Corid) is very to use safe if it was coccidiosis, so I would try it. Bleeding internally could be related to other problems such as cancer, fatty liver disease, or swallowing something sharp, but the cause would be unknown without looking inside. Hopefully this was a one time problem.

 

[Esinem]

Thanks. Hmm, I hadn't thought about risks from the compost. They'll miss the woodlice :-(

With some of the suggestions, e.g. sharp object, it would seem odd (to an ignorant layman like me) that the bleeding ceased 24hrs before death. I doubt a post-mortem by me would reveal much as I'm no pathologist. Anyway, fingers crossed for our other two ladies.

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes a necropsy will show where the blood may have come from, for example finding a hemorrhage with a pale or tan liver may point to fatty liver disease. Bloody or swollen purple intestines may indicate coccidiosis or enteritis. Blood in the oviduct may indicate a cancer. Sharp objects can be swallowed and may cause internal bleeding.

As for the compost pile, that may not be the problem if it was not botulism, a disease that causes paralysis in the feet and legs progressing to wings, neck, eyelids and then death within hours. Botulism can be a problem if there is rotted vegetation that has been buried without air to it, and can include maggots. But more commonly, it comes from eating a dead animal or fish carcass that has been underground or in water without air for a time. Many of us let our chickens scratch around mulch beds or compost piles without a problem. You can use your own judgement on that in the future. I just wanted to point out possibilities. With chickens, it is best to get a necropsy by a poultry vet or the state vet.

 

[Esinem]

Treating the other two with Petlife Harkers Coxoid Coccidiosis as a precaution but, fingers crossed, they seem fine.

Avatar is our ex-chicken and one of the two others enjoying a dust bath.

 

[Eggcessive]

Coxoid is not hard on chickens, but it can save lives if coccidiosis is a problem. Hoping that you have no more illnesses, and a healthy flock.