Question Regarding Blood in Poo **UPDATE** It Appears to Be Cocci!!!

[loralei]

Is cocci the only cause of blood in poo or are there other causes? I noticed that one of my 23 has bloody poo but have no idea how to determine which one.

Our rooster is mean as a snake and yesterday he attacked my husband. My hubby gave him a swift kick and sent him rolling. Although Rudy deserved it (he's the master of sneak attacks!)could he have an internal injury that would cause the blood in his poo?

What about stress? Might that cause blood in poo? We moved them into their new coop yesterday which was stressful for everyone.

What else will cause bloody poo?

Thank you!
Laura

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

Here's the poop page, it helped me a lot. http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0
How bloody is the poo?

 

[PunkinPeep]

Sometimes they shed a little of their intestinal lining, and it looks a little bloody, but it's completely normal.

In answer to your question, yes, there are other reasons for blood in the poop (sadly, i can't remember what they are). I think someone said that worm infestation can sometimes make blood in the poop, but i'm not sure.

Let us know which picture in chicken maid's link it looks like.

 

[loralei]

Oh thank you both for responding! I'm so worried!

I've checked the infamous poo page. The poo is about 1/4 blood but other than that looks relatively normal. It's hard to tell about eating, drinking, behavior, etc. We moved them into their new coop yesterday and they were pretty freaked out by it all. It's been raining for the last 24 hours. They got out into the run today and just stood around in the rain so I have wet, stressed chickens!

I'll keep an eye on em' and update with any new developments.

Thank you again for your help!!!

Laura

 

[PunkinPeep]

How old are they?

 

[Zoey]

The best way to get a rooster to stop attacking is to pick him up and carry him around with you under your arm every time he attacks, and generally make a fuss over him. About 5 to 10 minuits will do..

After 2 or 3 times he may stop. This puts him LOWER in the pecking order. Hitting/ kicking will only make him more agressive.

Red blood in the poo, is usually cocci. Sometimes it can be hardware disease, meaning they have eaten a staple or something.

Keep a close watch on everybody, anyone sitting around , fluffed up or lethargic, I would run the cocci meds promptly.

If they are under 3 months , much more likely one has cocci, but not impossible at any age...

 

[loralei]

They are 23 or 24 weeks old. I'm just back from the coop and there is more blood poo!! Seems unlikely one chicken could poo so much! They range for a couple hours every day with the exception of yesterday.

From what I understand about cocci it is a parasite found in the soil and it attacks the intestinal lining. It has been incredibly wet here in East Texas. I think that is a factor with cocci.

I can't say that anyone seems sick but they are stressed from the move (even possitive change can be stressful) and they are all wet.

Now I am terrified! I am getting 20 new chicks tomorrow and it seems possible I have 23 sick ones!!!

I will take a sample to the vet tomorrow for a fecal. Is Duramycin (?) effective for cocci, if that is indeed what's going on? I have that and Tylan injectable on hand.

Some are just over wet and dry pox! Uuuuugh!!!

 

[PunkinPeep]

No, Duramyacin is not affective for coccidiosis.

You need Corid (which i recommend) or Sulmet.

If they're bleeding that much, i don't think i would wait for a fecal. I would get Corid (brand name for amprolium) in them asap. Dosage is 1-2 teaspoons per gallon in their water, for 5 days.

It does seem strange that they would have cocci at this age, but it is possible.

Where have they lived before they moved to the new coop? Is the new coop actually newly built or has it been used before? Have they recently changed where they range? Say in the past few weeks?

Stress should not cause blood in the poop.

Also, see if they may have gotten into something that could be tearing at their insides like glass or staples or something.

 

[loralei]

PunkinPeep you are a blessing! You have come to my rescue before; not sure what emergency it was... there have been so many!

They are in a newly constructed coop so they could have picked up construction debris. I tried to be careful; especially when cutting the hardware cloth for this very reason. I did not get to clean up around the coop as well as I would have liked before moving them in though and they could have picked something up.

They have been in a pen in the barn until yesterday. It was crowded for them so I allowed them to range every afternoon. They have been ranging for about 6 weeks and they've been all over the front couple acres. You'd think they would have picked it up by now if they were going to get it.

I will start the Corid just as soon as I get some in the morning. I'll drop the poo off for the fecal just to confirm or hopefully rule out but will not wait for results to begin treatment. Luckily there is a great feed store near my vet's office.

Regarding my roo... I've posted on him before. I have tried the "pick up and carry" method. Doesn't work with him. In fact he is more aggressive towards me... just sneakier! I do not condone my hubby kicking him but he is a little jerk (Rudy, not hubby)! I have the scratches/bruises on my feet and shins to prove it! He destined to freezer camp!

 

[PunkinPeep]

Well, then that makes sense. (and i'm happy to be helpful

) They could've picked up a different strain of cocci in a different area. That, at least, is my best guess on why they would've had such a violent outbreak at this late a date.

If you get them on the Corid right away, they should hopefully be fine.

A lot of people also do a wet mash with buttermilk and yogurt and applesauce (i've never done it) to ease the intestines. It's worth doing a quick search on here to find one of the recipes.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=206673
Here's a thread where Nathalie (threehorses) gives a recipe for a mash for chicks, but you can get the idea of what is needed for your older birds too.