My chickens tested positive for Coccidia

[lorain's fids]

Yesterday I brought a stool sample from my chickens to the vet for a routine testing. I got the results back today and it was positive for Coccidia. I have to pick up the meds tomorrow and start them on it-he wants them on Albon for about a week.
Then retested in about 3 months.
I was a little surprised about this because their stools were very normal looking, no blood, firm, no forth. I am always picking up the poop in the yard and coop on a daily basis. Wondering how they actually got this. My dogs don't poop where the chickens roam either.
Who else has had to deal with this parasite?

 

[dawg53]

Actually, all chickens have cocci including healthy adult birds. It's normal to have a few cocci oocysts on the microscopic slide. However if the slide is loaded with cocci oocysts, then there's a problem. There are 9 types of cocci that chickens can get, not all of them cause blood in feces. You might want to ask your vet if there were alot of cocci oocysts on the slide...he may not know better especially with poultry.

 

[lorain's fids]

Actually, all chickens have cocci including healthy adult birds. It's normal to have a few cocci oocysts on the microscopic slide. However if the slide is loaded with cocci oocysts, then there's a problem. There are 9 types of cocci that chickens can get, not all of them cause blood in feces. You might want to ask your vet if there were alot of cocci oocysts on the slide...he may not know better especially with poultry.

Thanks, I will ask him about how many cocci ocysts were on the slide. Last time I had a stool sample tested was in December and it came back normal. I have to go and get the medication for them today. Is there anything that can prevent this in chickens, like on a more natural basis instead of meds?

 

[dawg53]

Thanks, I will ask him about how many cocci ocysts were on the slide. Last time I had a stool sample tested was in December and it came back normal. I have to go and get the medication for them today. Is there anything that can prevent this in chickens, like on a more natural basis instead of meds?

No. Cocci oocysts are present in the soil everywhere.

 

[fishnet1971]

i had a bout with an abundance of cocci in poo last year with a Cochin. It was bound to take her down. It was my first time dealing with it. My vet also gave me Albon for her directly down the throat for a week, and some for the water for everyone else. It worked awesome on her. I noticed a substantial change in her on day 4 of the individual dose. I did not see any blood in the feces as well. I did get a chance to work with the vet on the microscope to see them, and i had a ton of the oocysts in the feces.

 

[lorain's fids]

i had a bout with an abundance of cocci in poo last year with a Cochin. It was bound to take her down. It was my first time dealing with it. My vet also gave me Albon for her directly down the throat for a week, and some for the water for everyone else. It worked awesome on her. I noticed a substantial change in her on day 4 of the individual dose. I did not see any blood in the feces as well. I did get a chance to work with the vet on the microscope to see them, and i had a ton of the oocysts in the feces.

Good that she responded well to the meds. My sample didn't reveal a ton of the oocysts yet-LOL!! He said the number was on the low side, which is why none of my 5 are experiencing any health problems. How old are your chickens, mine hatched on June 29th,2011. Not quite a year yet.
I just picked the Albon up from the vet and was reading the dosage--it says 1/2ml for every pound, the first day and 1/4ml for the next 5 days. I do believe they are about 4lbs or so. So that means I have to give aprox 2 droppers full to each. How did you give the dose to your chicken?

 

[lorain's fids]

Actually, all chickens have cocci including healthy adult birds. It's normal to have a few cocci oocysts on the microscopic slide. However if the slide is loaded with cocci oocysts, then there's a problem. There are 9 types of cocci that chickens can get, not all of them cause blood in feces. You might want to ask your vet if there were alot of cocci oocysts on the slide...he may not know better especially with poultry.

I did ask the vet, and he said they were on the low side. So maybe it is just starting in my chikens. The girls won't be a year until June29th. Also after doing some reading, the very mild winter we had could also be a contributing factor into them contracting this parasite.

 

[fishnet1971]

1 ML is the same as 1 CC. The syringe my vet gave me was a 1 ml/cc. I ended up giving her .5 CC per day. Not sure if it's the same strength and stuff. My Peaches had it from day one. She was never right as a chick. She was born April 1 last year, so she just turned 1. I finally got her into the vet in August at 16 weeks with a fecal sample. She wasnt growing up right, depressed, quiet, puffed up, not eating right etc. The rest of my flock is just now turning 2.

Vet had also given me a bottle of Ablon dilute for their waterer so that i could treat the rest of the flock anyway. Good luck to you! keep us posted.

 

[NYboy]

I just did a stool culture, was worried about cocci. Culture came back neg for cocci but postive for round worms.