Shedding intestinal lining or coccidiosis? *with pictures*

[manoa_moa]

This morning when cleaning my hens' dropboard I noticed this dark red globby poo mixed with their normal poop. I did see this yesterday as well - it had hardened though and was very dark so I thought I would wait until today to determine if it was a problem. My 4 hens are 1yo, and have been acting completely normal and continue to do so. I checked their vents and see no blood. They have been laying eggs as normal. I've gotten some advice that it is coccidiosis and I should treat with Corid, but also others think it's just intestinal lining. Can intestinal lining be shed 2 or 3 nights in a row? Should I just treat Corid in case? Or should I wait another day or so - but worried b/c have heard coccidiosis moves fast.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Eggcessive]

That is blood not just intestinal shed. If you could get a fecal float today at your vets of some fresh droppings like those, I would. If not, I would treat with Corid for 7 days at 10 ml of the liquid or 1.5 tsp of the powder per gallon of water as the only source of water. I would also consider worming them with Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer. Could any of the chickens have gotten into any sharp material or glass? Are any chickens acting lethargic, puffed up, or not eating?

 

[manoa_moa]

The vet won't do a test unless the poop is very fresh, so that's hard now that the ladies have been out of the coop all morning. I went to the farm supplies store and picked up Cord. It's '20% soluble powder coccidiostat' - so 1.5 tsp per gallon of that? Can I let that mixture sit out for multiple days or should I mix it up fresh every morning? Do recommend not eating eggs for the duration (5days?)?

Chickens could have potential had something sharp since they roam around our enclosed hillside. But, they are acting completely normal and eating! They are also laying eggs as per usual.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes 1.5 tsp per gallon for 5-7 days. There is no need to avoid eating eggs with Corid. Put it in the waterer each day fresh. Keep the bedding clean and as dry as possible, stirring daily and adding fresh bedding as needed. Consider worming them later or you do that at the same time.

 

[manoa_moa]

Yes 1.5 tsp per gallon for 5-7 days. There is no need to avoid eating eggs with Corid. Put it in the waterer each day fresh. Keep the bedding clean and as dry as possible, stirring daily and adding fresh bedding as needed. Consider worming them later or you do that at the same time.

Thank you! I just added it to their water. What's the rationale behind putting it fresh each day? They drink from nipple waterers out of a 3.5 gallon bucket. They do roam around most of the day on our hillside, which is mainly dirt (very gravelly and dry volcanic soil) and low plants - I can't really clean that. Their coop is always dry and just to be safe I will replace the bedding today (though it's pretty clean since we have a dropboard!).

 

[manoa_moa]

If the coop bedding is dry and mostly clean, do I actually need to disinfect the coop? I can scoop out the stray poops that have fallen off dropboard. But if the bedding isn't wet, then wouldn't it not be harboring cocci?

 

[LozzyR]

Hi Manoa, have you had any luck sorting this out? I have just posted something similar on the emergency forum.