Help with baby chicks blood in poop

[Irmameyer2018]

Hello, I’m new to the forum. I have raised a medium flock of chickens since 2016 (40 was our highest number) and now have a small flock of female ducks, 5.

We recently added 24 assorted baby chicks, which live in their own seperated part of our coop. Since our older chickens egg production has slowed (we have 19 assorted that are 3-5 years old) They are about 5-6 weeks old.

I noticed a small bloody stool in their pen last night. This morning I also noticed a little bit of blood spots throughout the pen and a bloody poop. I found one chick who was huddled by herself in the corner and checks her and she had just a touch of blood on her feathers near her vent. I seperated her just in case. The others are all running around and eating and drinking fine.

I was just wondering if anyone might have some advise. I looked on google and read about Coccidiosis and pray it’s not that. We have never had any health problems with our chickens before so it’s very concerning and I’m trying not to panic.

We usually order chickens fromMcMurray hatchery online, but picked some up from a new Farm and Home store due to so many farms not having enough chicks.

Any thoughts would be very appreciated

 

[ChickenChick46]

It's definitely possible, I'd even say possibly likely, that it is Coccidiosis, but it's treatable with Corid. The quicker the better. @thecatumbrella may know the dosage, as I do not offhand.

If that's what it is, it probably came from the environment since the bacteria lives naturally in soil. It probably wasn't from any chicks you brought in.

I'm still very new, so let's let others weigh in here. But if they were my flock, I think I'd start Corid. You can usually find it at Tractor Supply or other feed stores, if you're in the US.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Get the entire flock on Corid ASAP as their only water source. It's normally sold at either Tractor Supply or a local farm store.

Liquid dosing is 2 teaspoons per gallon of water. Powder version is 1.5 teaspoons per gallon of water. Make a fresh batch each day for 5-7 days. Act fast. It will wipe out your chicks if left untreated.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I noticed a small bloody stool in their pen last night. This morning I also noticed a little bit of blood spots throughout the pen and a bloody poop. I found one chick who was huddled by herself in the corner and checks her and she had just a touch of blood on her feathers near her vent. I seperated her just in case. The others are all running around and eating and drinking fine.

I'd gently clean her up and see if she's getting pecked at or has an injury. Start the Corid regardless. Like I said, you really can't mess around with bloody stools. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

 

[Irmameyer2018]

Thank you so much! Headed to tractor supply now. I live in Michigan and we have been hit with so much rain this summer and just this week the heat really broke and now we are getting fall type weather.
I appreciate all your advise so much!

 

[ChickenChick46]

Thank you so much! Headed to tractor supply now. I live in Michigan and we have been hit with so much rain this summer and just this week the heat really broke and now we are getting fall type weather.
I appreciate all your advise so much!

If I'm not mistaken, a lot of rain can trigger a coccidiosis outbreak, particularly in warm summer weather. Good luck with your flock! I know a lot of people have great success recovering all of their birds when they treat with Corid quickly. Please keep us updated, and we'll keep you and your flock in our thoughts!

 

[ChickenChick46]

Get the entire flock on Corid ASAP as their only water source. It's normally sold at either Tractor Supply or a local farm store.

Liquid dosing is 2 teaspoons per gallon of water. Powder version is 1.5 teaspoons per gallon of water. Make a fresh batch each day for 5-7 days. Act fast. It will wipe out your chicks if left untreated.

Thank you for jumping in with the dose. I couldn't remember it offhand.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Thank you for jumping in with the dose. I couldn't remember it offhand.

After treating two broods, it's practically tattooed on the inside of my eyelids. Gotta second guess yourself each morning while you make a new batch!

 

[cocosandy]

Cocci exists inside chickens and its in poop. An overgrowth causes coccidiosis and bloody poop. Corid or Amprolium (the generic) is what you need. Its also in medicated feed but by the time they get cocci they lose appetite. Treat them all and keep some on hand, because adults can get it too. Keep their water really clean and also their area.

 

[Irmameyer2018]

Thank you! I’ve got their pen cleaned and food and water clean and mixed the corid in their water.

Should I treat the older birds? They are seperated but in the same coop as are the ducks. My ducks are 5 months old and 1 year old.

The chick I seperated has eaten and drank so I’m hoping I’ve caught it quick enough.