Suspect Coccidosis

[ecojoe69]

I have a group of birds that are likely about 4 months old now. I think I had a bout of coccidosis but then treated them with Corrid and all was well for a bit. Now, once again, one is dying about every three days. They just get slow, quiet and then I find them in a corner dead.

How often do you need to treat for this? I guess I assumed that once I treated them that they would not need to be treated again.

Any suggestions how to handle this? I am tired of slowly losing birds.

 

[Lavendise]

First of all, I am a newbie at raising chickens. Just got my first chickens in May. I too, have been losing chickens.
The only help I have had was reading about the symptoms on this forum. And I must say, the wonderful people here have been great in helping with the diagnosis of coccidiosis. I too, treated my chickens about 5 weeks ago for this protozoa. Now I am noticing once again, the tell tale signs of the sick chickens.
I do live in central Florida and we are in the hot humid wet rainy season, perfect breeding grounds for the cocci bug. I feel like I am fighting a losing battle. After seeing a small pile of slightly reddish chicken poo, followed by a dead chicken the next day, I decided to treat the whole flock again. I shall follow the instructions given on this forum concerning using the vitamin treatment after the Amprol treatment.
So on Sunday, I started with the Amprol 128 20% powder at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water.
I have no idea if I am doing the right thing in treating them all again after 5 weeks. But when you are still losing chickens to the cocci bug, what other choice do we have.
Like you, I wonder if I am doing the right thing. And like you, I am sad about losing so many chickens to this disease.
I am trying very hard to avoid the conditions that promote this disease, but when you live in a hot humid climate, it is difficult.

 

[ecojoe69]

What is the vitamin treatment? I have been using corrid but read somewhere that alternating meds may help prevent resistance. Anyone have any thoughts on which meds and how best to get sickbirds back on their feet after treatment? Those electrolyte packs added to water? Special diet?

 

[Lavendise]

I believe I read a while back, that you give the cocci treatment for like 7 days straight and then stop it. Then you give the Electrolyte/vitamin powder in the water for a certain number of days. Then you restart the cocci treatment again for a certain number of days. I am
desperately hoping that someone with great knowledge will step in and once again enlightened us. I know I have read the procedure on the disease/emergence section. I believe Dawg55 may have all the answers. Please someone out there, help us newbies.

 

[dawg53]

If the Corid didnt work, I recommend using Sulmet. Dosage for the liquid sulmet is 2 tablespoons to a gallon of water for 2 days. Then 1 tablespoon to a gallon of water for 4 days per instructions on the bottle. The dosage is the same for the soluable powder.
There is a 10 day withdrawal period for slaughter after last use. Excessive dosage may cause toxic reactions. Dont try hatching eggs for a short period thereafter. Sulmet treats only 2 types of cocci (corid treats all 9 types.)
Corid also treats coryza, acute fowl cholera and salmonella pullorum.

 

[Lavendise]

I was wondering if there is a period after treating with the Amprol 128 powder that you use the vitamin/ectrolyte powder to help return the B vitamins to their diet. And if so. How many days do you use the Amprol ? 7 days?
Then do you use the vitamin treatment for a certain number of days?
And then do you return to the Amprol treatment for a few days more?
Then back to the vitamin B and electrolytes?

 

[dawg53]

The amprol 128, aka corid 20% soluable powder dosage is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5-7 days. I dont recommend using it again if it didnt work the first time. The sulmet would be next in line. You can use vitamin supplements anytime after the 5-7 day treatment period is completed.

 

[Lavendise]

Thank you Dawg. Will check down at Tractor Supply for the Sulmet.