Need Help, Runny Nose and Runny Bloody Poop

[cbookout]

I keep 2, 3 month old silkies at home. It seems like since I got them at 8 weeks my white one always had a runny nose. I watched her/him closely but no other symptoms appeared. In fact the white one has grown at a rate about twice as fast as it's black hatch mate. It eats well, in fact sometimes it likes to just sit at the feeder while the other take breaks.

This morning when I went to let them out of their enclosure and put them outside I noticed a bloody runny stool. Then it made a few more of these as I was watching. The chicks are on and have been on since I came to care for them, medicated feed. They were vaccinated for Mereks but nothing else. There are no other symptoms but runny nose and runny bloody stool. They are still eating normally and not acting lethargic or 'droopy'.

Any ideas? Suggestion?

Also, will my dogs that live with the chickens be okay? I have one that I've seen eat chicken poop.

 

[cbookout]

I keep 2, 3 month old silkies at home. It seems like since I got them at 8 weeks my white one always had a runny nose. I watched her/him closely but no other symptoms appeared. In fact the white one has grown at a rate about twice as fast as it's black hatch mate. It eats well, in fact sometimes it likes to just sit at the feeder while the other take breaks.

This morning when I went to let them out of their enclosure and put them outside I noticed a bloody runny stool. Then it made a few more of these as I was watching. The chicks are on and have been on since I came to care for them, medicated feed. They were vaccinated for Mereks but nothing else. There are no other symptoms but runny nose and runny bloody stool. They are still eating normally and not acting lethargic or 'droopy'.

Any ideas? Suggestion?

Also, will my dogs that live with the chickens be okay? I have one that I've seen eat chicken poop.

Here's some pics, FYI they are gross.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would probably treat them with Corid (amprollium) for possible coccidosis. It certainly won't hurt them, and the medicated feed they are on has such a small amount of amprollium in it, that you don't have to stop it. After treatment, give them several days of vitamins and probiotics in their water to help get the intestinal health back to normal. Sometimes we see some intestinal shed in the poop, but at that age cocci can still be a problem. Dosage of Corid 2 tsp of the liquid, or 1.5 tsp of the powderper gallon of water for 5-7 days. As far as the runny nose, it could be something irritating in the environment, or just a very mild strain of a respiratory infection. If further symptoms of sneezing, eye drainage or swelling occurs, then you may want to treat it.

 

[cbookout]

Can anyone tell me if coccidosis is transferrable to dogs? Or humans for that matter?


So my local tractor supply is out of Corid and I had my two kids, 4yrs and 20mos with me so I wasn't able to drive to the other side of town to the feed store. I will however as soon as I get them up from their naps. For now I bought a save a chick electrolyte packet that I added to cold water and am giving them a large clove of garlic to share (which they love) just for good measure.

They are both still eating and drinking normally and do not seem lethargic. They do however both act like the have a cold. I know thats not possible but the way they are acting looks like a cold. Runny nose with little snot bubbles and very tiny little sniffing sounds. The white one has been doing this for two weeks but the black one is starting now as well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Each species has their own strains of coccidia--dogs, horses, chickens get different strains. It won't affect humans, normally unless they are immune compromised, although 2 types--cryptosproidium and toxoplasmosis can infect humans. Look also for Ampromed or Amprol--the generic is amprollium. If you cannot find it still, then get some sulfadimethoxine (Di-Methox) or sulfamethazine (Sulmet.) Read directions on the packet. Amprollium treats the most strains of coccidia in chicken, but the sulfa drugs will treat the 2 worst strains. Here are a couple of excerpts about humans:


Description
Coccidia are microscopic parasites that commonly infect the intestines of dogs and cats. Although most often, Isospora canis andIsospora felis forms of the parasite infect dogs and cats, respectively, Cryptospordium and Toxoplasma forms of coccidia may also infect these and other animals. In addition, these less commonly found parasites are zoonotic, meaning that they can be transmitted to humans.

Coccidiosis rarely affects a healthy dog or cat significantly, but it can lead to gastrointestinal problems and death in debilitated or immunocompromised adult animals. Puppies and kittens also are at risk for serious infection.

While coccidia can infect a wide variety of animals, including humans, birds, and livestock, they are usually species-specific. One well-known exception is toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii.

 

[cbookout]

So I don't think they have coccidia. I was reading Storeys guide to raising chickens last night and it says that if they are on a medicated food and are in a sanitary environment then getting severe coccidia is rare. Plus they are over 3 months old.

No more blood in stool since yesterday morning.

Absolutely no other symptoms of coccidia. Eating well, drinking well, very active, even sprightly/hyper, poop is back to normal.

BUT they both still act like they have colds, which is not a symptom of coccidia. They do Not have discharge from the eyes. Just the nostrils. They are always shaking their heads and making little sniffing sounds. I know it contagious because my white one had it first for a week and a half and now my black one has it as of yesterday.

Any suggestions for Cold Like Symptoms? With no other symptoms? Can chickens ever get well on their own? Should I try an antibiotic?

 

[Eggcessive]

Medicated feed does not always help prevent cocci. Cocci can infect chickens until they build up resistance to it which happens usually between 11-20 weeks old. Older chickens can still get cocci if they are exposed to a strain they haven't been in contact with before, say, from changing locations, or with the exposure to a new bird's droppings. It's good they are not showing any other symptoms of cocci, and it's always guess work deciding if red in the droppings is intestinal shed or if it is caused by cocci. Chickens don't get colds, but they can get infectious bronchitis, MG, coryza, aspergillosis, or ILT. Some are bacterial, some viruses, and aspergillosis is from mold. Some make carriers of your flock, and can back again. Antibiotics such as Tylan, oxytetracycline, and Gallimycin (erythromycin) are sometimes used to treat the bacterial ones or to help prevent secondary infections which can be dangerous. Here is a link to read about those diseases: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[TinyBoxTim]

They very well could have just been shedding intestinal tract, which can be normal,one generally only has to worry about cocci if the stool is completely blood. Had to take care of an outbreak in my coop of cocci a couple months ago, killed my favorite hen and I had another hen on deaths door before I found out what it was and how I could treat it. Corid saved her life and kept my young pullets from catching it. But the poop was basically all blood, splattered on the porch, when its just pink like that its usually benign.