Suspected Coccidiosis need help

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 1937511

I am not seeing any more bloody stools around, but I am keeping my eyes open! I am, however, still getting the speckled eggs. I think they may be coming from one of my Rhode Island Reds. Attached is a picture. I know the speckles are not part of the egg shell because I can wash them off.
Anybody see this before and know what might be causing it? My hens started laying about mid August. The speckles just started about two weeks ago.

What do you feed?
Could be due to excess calcium in the diet, stress during the calcification process or defective shell gland.

 

[Sallimom]

What do you feed?
Could be due to excess calcium in the diet, stress during the calcification process or defective shell gland.

Interesting...
I feed Purina Layena Pellets, non medicated.
I bought some oyster shell and mixed it in with their grit. Maybe that is the culprit? I will take it away and see if the speckles go away too.
I also give them a “Scratch Feed” mix at bedtime, which they absolutely love. I toss about half cup (for six chickens) into their run to bring them in at night. They come running for it!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

All layer feed will be non medicated.
You can keep offering oyster shell, just in a separate container from the grit, so they can choose which they need.
If those dark spots rub off easily, it doesn't look like excess calcification to me. Sometimes calcification happens after pigment is applied but it will usually be all over or in lighter spots, not darker.
I wouldn't be overly concerned. Just observe behavior: watch for lethargy, going off feed, ruffled up feathers and other signs of discontent.

 

[Sallimom]

All layer feed will be non medicated.
You can keep offering oyster shell, just in a separate container from the grit, so they can choose which they need.
If those dark spots rub off easily, it doesn't look like excess calcification to me. Sometimes calcification happens after pigment is applied but it will usually be all over or in lighter spots, not darker.
I wouldn't be overly concerned. Just observe behavior: watch for lethargy, going off feed, ruffled up feathers and other signs of discontent.

Thank you so much! The speckles do not rub off easily. I had to use water, a scrub sponge, and some muscle, but everyone is active and happy. I cleaned their coop today and found only solid, healthy poop!

I will continue to monitor for behavioral changes. Thanks again!!

 

[amanda1]

So glad I have joined this site! I noticed some bloody/loose stool several days ago, but I cannot tell which chicken is doing this. I looked at each one’s vent and found nothing. I have not seen any blood recently, but I am still seeing loose brown stool around.
My chickens free range. Everyone is active, happy, and laying. Last week I noticed what looked like dark red “speckles” on a couple of eggs, but that seems to have stopped the last two days.
I asked an employee at Tractor Supply Company (a guy who said he has been raising chickens for 20 years) and he told me not to worry about it. He did suggest I stop adding ACV to their water for a while to see if it made a difference, but other than that he said do nothing.
So, any suggestions? Do I just wait and watch or take action? I don’t want to ignore a problem only to see it get worse. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Sometimes they pass some intestinal tissue which will appear as blood in the stool. If you only see it occasionally, it’s noting to worry about. The eggs can have spots that appear to be blood, but they are actually pigment. Only if you see a smear of blood on the egg, is it actually blood. When they are just little polka dots, they are pigment.

 

[amanda1]

View attachment 1937511

I am not seeing any more bloody stools around, but I am keeping my eyes open! I am, however, still getting the speckled eggs. I think they may be coming from one of my Rhode Island Reds. Attached is a picture. I know the speckles are not part of the egg shell because I can wash them off.
Anybody see this before and know what might be causing it? My hens started laying about mid August. The speckles just started about two weeks ago.

Definitely pigment!

 

[Sallimom]

Sometimes they pass some intestinal tissue which will appear as blood in the stool. If you only see it occasionally, it’s noting to worry about. The eggs can have spots that appear to be blood, but they are actually pigment. Only if you see a smear of blood on the egg, is it actually blood. When they are just little polka dots, they are pigment.

Thank you! I am relieved!