Need your help!

[Lazur]

I'm new here and need some advise. About three days ago I noticed what looked like bloody poo. At first I thought maybe they ate some berries but then found more that really looked blood-red so I found the poo chart on BYC and I was still a bit confused so I just kept an eye on them and all 6 looked fine... Running around, eating and happy. But today mid-day was in the 80s and I noticed two birds were staggering and falling to one side and looking wilted and all 6 had dropped tails. I ran to feed store and got Corid, probiotics and electrolytes. spent next few hours cleaning with 10% non-Clorox bleach solution to clean coop area, feed and water dishes. When I went out to the chick-tractor to move them to clean area they all were up and looking rather good with slightly dropped tails but no staggering or falling over! I was pleased but confused. I sat with them while they drank the Corid, probiotics & electrolyte mixture and they all seemed thirsty and had a good amount. I tucked them in with new bedding and more treated water.

Can anybody tell me what might be going on with my girls? Was it just the 80+ degree weather? Did they get exposed to Coccidiosis and their bodies are/were processing it? Any insight you may have would be very appreciated. Thank you!!!

Very worried in NH:-(

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm new here and need some advise. About three days ago I noticed what looked like bloody poo. At first I thought maybe they ate some berries but then found more that really looked blood-red so I found the poo chart on BYC and I was still a bit confused so I just kept an eye on them and all 6 looked fine... Running around, eating and happy. But today mid-day was in the 80s and I noticed two birds were staggering and falling to one side and looking wilted and all 6 had dropped tails. I ran to feed store and got Corid, probiotics and electrolytes. spent next few hours cleaning with 10% non-Clorox bleach solution to clean coop area, feed and water dishes. When I went out to the chick-tractor to move them to clean area they all were up and looking rather good with slightly dropped tails but no staggering or falling over! I was pleased but confused. I sat with them while they drank the Corid, probiotics & electrolyte mixture and they all seemed thirsty and had a good amount. I tucked them in with new bedding and more treated water.

Can anybody tell me what might be going on with my girls? Was it just the 80+ degree weather? Did they get exposed to Coccidiosis and their bodies are/were processing it? Any insight you may have would be very appreciated. Thank you!!!

Very worried in NH:-(

Welcome to BYC.

How old are they?
How long have you had them?
Can you post photos of the poop, your chickens and your setup?
Were they vaccinated for Marek's?

It's possibly they may have been suffering from dehydration due to heat, but if you suspect that the poop is bloody, then Corid was the way to go.

Give only the Corid water - give some probiotics and vitamin water after the course of Corid is finished (5-7days).
Make a fresh batch of Corid at least once a day and keep the water containers clean.

Let us know how they are doing.

 

[Lazur]

Thanks so much for the quick response. I could not wait for morning to come...was so worried what I might find. I'm happy to say that all tails are up and all are foraging happily. My Buckeye girls are about 12 weeks old. They were about 7-8 weeks old when I got them have had them a month now. No vaccines were given to them. They sleep in a large dog crate that sits on a Vermont Cart. Every morning they take a ride to their chicken tractor for the day and the reverse happens at night...back to garage. Some days when I'm home I let them free range. I have an older lab that likes them and she watches over them too.

I cleaned up all the bloody poo and have not seen any more but if I do I'll take photos and post. I have had a thought and want to get folks input on it...we live in NH and in a wooded area. This time of year we get all sorts of fungi/mushrooms growing in our yard...could they have gotten hold of a toxic one?

 

[Lazur]

Okay, I spoke too soon. More Bloody poo and leaning to one side and sitting down behavior from 3-4 of the 6 chickens. Worried its Marek's...I see a lot of leg and foot stretching. What should I do???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Okay, I spoke too soon. More Bloody poo and leaning to one side and sitting down behavior from 3-4 of the 6 chickens. Worried its Marek's...I see a lot of leg and foot stretching. What should I do???

Continue the Corid with this dosage 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder per gallon or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon
Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period. Mix a fresh batch at least once a day.

If they have access to any other water, while they free range, you may want to keep them penned until course of treatment is finished.

Have they by any chance eaten berries, cabbage, beets - anything like that?

Marek's is usually not associated with bloody poop, so Cocci would still be your best bet. If it is something like Marek's there really is no course of treatment except supportive care.

 

[Lazur]

No. No berries or beets:-( I wish it were that. Yeah, I'm not free ranging until they look clear. I have not separated them as I can't tell one from the other...seems all or most have issues at one point or another. I did get some colored rings for their feet and will now have better idea which ones are needing extra care. It looks like I must now just mix Corid 2x/day and cross my fingers.

Do chickens get sick a lot? Or is it like being in a new school you catch everything that comes around until your immune system gets use to the environment? Would probiotics help? If so what do folks fine to be the best for chickens? I have read that they cannot digest milk so kefir/yogurt is not going to help.

Would love to know what product folks feel are necessary to have on hand to keep chics healthy.

Thank you again for all your help! It has really lowered my stress level.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No. No berries or beets:-( I wish it were that. Yeah, I'm not free ranging until they look clear. I have not separated them as I can't tell one from the other...seems all or most have issues at one point or another. I did get some colored rings for their feet and will now have better idea which ones are needing extra care. It looks like I must now just mix Corid 2x/day and cross my fingers.

Do chickens get sick a lot? Or is it like being in a new school you catch everything that comes around until your immune system gets use to the environment? Would probiotics help? If so what do folks fine to be the best for chickens? I have read that they cannot digest milk so kefir/yogurt is not going to help.

Would love to know what product folks feel are necessary to have on hand to keep chics healthy.

Thank you again for all your help! It has really lowered my stress level.

You can give them some yogurt or store bought probiotics for a few days from the feed store after you finish the Corid. Also some poultry vitamins for a few days after treatment may help as well.

I'm not sure about chicken getting sick "a lot".
Some people have a few more problems than others. There is so much information in books and the web (and online forums

) that it can be confusing.
Cocci is very common, but once immunity is built is usually is not a big problem unless chickens encounter a strain that they haven't had before.

A balanced poultry feed, fresh water, oyster shell free choice for laying hens, grit free choice, some fresh fruits/veggies (garden weeds/bugs) and a small amount of "treats" like mealworms, sunflower or cracked corn is really all they need. This is basically all I do for mine. That said, I do keep some poultry vitamins and electrolytes on hand, as well as, "emergency" medical supplies like plain neosporin, blu kote, etc., to treat any cuts/wounds if they crop up.

Of course, everyone has a different way of raising/feeding their flocks and what is right for me, may not work for someone else.

Just my thoughts.