How many times can your flock get cocci?

[anniemary]

I've had my freedom rangers since May. I treated them once for cocci when I lost 2 birds. A couple weeks later, two young layers who were brought down to a separate house in the area died of cocci, so I treated all 3 flocks: meat birds (again), old layers and young layers (who all live in their own separate hoop structures within about 25 feet of each other).

Tonight we found another meat bird exhibiting early signs of cocci. Puffed up feathers, lethargic. But this one is still eating and we haven't seen blood around yet.

The meat birds are in a hoop house on a dirt floor. I haven't put down fresh hay in a couple weeks and I admit, it's getting a little fragrant down there.. Maybe it's their environment? There are 160 of them in a 24 by 16 foot hoop house.

They are let out every morning to free-range. We have a 2 acre yard and 15 acres of pasture for them, but they prefer the soft grass of the yard.

The meat birds are fed at night. Because there are so many of them, I throw the food on the floor of their hoop house to get them inside and so I'm able to create piles for everyone to get to food.

Is it bad that i"m putting the food on the floor? Is this where they could get the parasite?

I feel like such a bad flock master.

 

[junebuggena]

Feed should not be fed by spreading it on the ground, especially if that ground is covered in poo from 160 meat birds. There are at least 9 different strains of coccidia. Most birds gradually build up a resistance to the coccidia strains in their environment. However, your birds cramped and crowded conditions do make outbreaks more prevalent. 160 in 384 sq ft is less than 2 1/2 feet per bird. It's too many in too small a space. And please get some feeders to prevent direct contact in the ground.

 

[ryanhodapp]

Feed should not be fed by spreading it on the ground, especially if that ground is covered in poo from 160 meat birds. There are at least 9 different strains of coccidia. Most birds gradually build up a resistance to the coccidia strains in their environment. However, your birds cramped and crowded conditions do make outbreaks more prevalent. 160 in 384 sq ft is less than 2 1/2 feet per bird. It's too many in too small a space. And please get some feeders to prevent direct contact in the ground. 

X2
I am having a hard time with coccidia too. Too much rain in the Midwest. I have dirt floor in one area and we took out all the bedding and dug down to "old" dirt Did you treat them with Corid?
Did you confirm dosage?

Just some other ideas

 

[Akrnaf2]

You should take in consideration that preventing diseases is much better than treat it! So you should practice very strict biosecurity behavior while treating your flock.
You should know that cats have some of the most persistent strains of Coccidia, and they can be very harmful to chickens. So if you have cats near your flock that can be one of the reasons.

 

[anniemary]

Thank you everyone.

No, we don't have cats near them.

Yes, I've been treating with Corid.

I'll get feeders and do some work on the coop. Yes it has been a wet summer in the Midwest!

Thank you!!