Question about runny stool.....

[Hoosiermomma]

Our two IB peafowl love to eat everything in my garden including the unripe berries. Since they have found out where they are, they are constantly eating them. I've noticed that they have diahrrea (sp?) and am wondering if this is natural when they eat alot of unripe berries or if it's something I should worry about. Any idea on what to give them to help firm up their stool? They free range and I cannot keep them from the berries.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Its probley from the rich berry diet, not much you can do there.
Watch them a bit though, many diseases show up as the runns too. Coccidia for one, will be a yellow foamy version.
But sounds like the berries are probley the case here.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Nope, nothing yellow and foamy here. I was hoping to worm them in the next week. With that only intensify the runny poo?

 

[featherhead]

Worming shouldn't make the diarrhea worse, at least I've never seen it. If coccidia is the issue, wormers won't correct that. You'll need a coccidiostat such as Corid or another sulfa drug. Treat the birds for 5 days to kill all stages of the coccidia parasite.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

How would I be able to differentiate between diarrhea from eating alot of berries and garden veggies versus coccidia?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Cocci will show as red streaks or actual blood in the poo.

Steve in NC

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

That's correct, in the very begining, it'll be yellowish, but then will get streaks, and eventually turn brown /black from blood as these are intestinal critters that reak havok on the digestive system.
The birds or anything that gets it, will get very latargic, eventually stop eating, due to the abdominal pain, and in a week or so be dead. Sulfur based meds are the only ones I know of that will cure it, but needs to be administered in the early stages before it progresses too far . By the stop eating stage, it's usually too late.
Thank fully, I have never had it in fowl, have with my pet ferrets though, it's horrible. So I do keep some poultry safe water soulable meds on hand. If I even suspect it, I'll give all the birds a round of medication just to be safe.
The worst think about it, is it is nearly impossible to get out of the soil once it gets in. My vet said they are the only critters, that can live on a stainless steal exam table, when washes down with straight bleach!

Anyway, you probley just have the berry runs! But coccidia, is something everyone should be aware of, and how to treat as it is very common. The good thing is, healthy strong adult birds, can usually beat it off on their own. The bad ones are chicks, older birds, of other wise, sickly birds, they are the ones at the greatest risk.

Aubrey

 

[deerman]

Quote:
So true, best reason to raise peachicks on wire first few months. Also to start them on medicated feed for 12 weeks.

Know many dont, but after one time dealing with a bad case of coccidiosis. You will wish you had. Mainly with poults and peachicks

 

[Hoosiermomma]

So if chicks are started on medicated feed then that will protect them against coccidiosis? All my chicks and peafowl were started on medicated starter.

 

[deerman]

yes the medicated start will give the chicks time to develop immunity.

I would keep them on medicated feed for the first 12 weeks.

Now I would not have them on the ground until at least 2 months of age.