The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mumsy]

Justine..I would take a fecal sample into the vets office.

X2

Treating without knowing is counter productive sometimes. When you are working with this number of chicks, you need a definitive answer to get you going in the correct direction.

I had bad results in the past treating without knowing. Lost many many chicks and became so so very frustrated.

These days I know more about preventing than treating.

I have walked in your shoes Justine and I know exactly what you're feeling right now. You will get a handle on this outbreak, whatever it is. I have utmost confidence in your abilities.

 

[Mumsy]

It's been many years since I've dealt with a bad outbreak of cocci.

It can be devastating to a flock. I really feel for anyone going through this in your own situation right now. It can get to your birds in many many different ways. Lab tests are your best bet to diagnose your birds. I would also do necropsy of dead chicks. Examine the intestinal tract for clues.


Things I do to prevent it: No overcrowding the brooder. No wet litter.Dry dry dry. I use deep litter in my brooders. I stir it multiple times a day to keep it dry. I put UN-ACV in water from day one. I feed FF non medicated chick starter from day one. I give dirt clods from the chicken yard the first week to start building immunities. When the weather is damp, I am extra diligent about keeping the litter dry. I no longer purchase chicks from feed stores. These are precautions I take. It doesn't mean I'll always have cocci free flocks. It's out there and everyone can get an outbreak at any time. The following was taken from the internet. No infringement of copyright is intended. I share it for educational purposes only.


E. acervulina

Infects upper 1/3 of small intestine
Identified by white/gray striations on intestinal lining
Negatively impacts feed conversion
Weight loss in bird
E. maxima

Infects middle 1/3 of small intestine
Causes inflammation of intestinal tract
Weight loss in bird
Typically leads to secondary bacterial infections: Necrotic Enteritis and Clostridium
E. tenella

Infects ceca (two blind pouches where small & large intestines join)
Oocysts found in fecal droppings
Causes bloody droppings
May cause morbidity and mortality

 

[aoxa]

X2

Treating without knowing is counter productive sometimes. When you are working with this number of chicks, you need a definitive answer to get you going in the correct direction.

I had bad results in the past treating without knowing. Lost many many chicks and became so so very frustrated.

These days I know more about preventing than treating.

I have walked in your shoes Justine and I know exactly what you're feeling right now. You will get a handle on this outbreak, whatever it is. I have utmost confidence in your abilities.

If only we had a vet that dealt with this stuff. I've tried already. Only the department of agriculture, and it's a slow process.

On a plus note. They have since turned around after being provided the medicated feed and electrolytes. I have no clue how this helped them. Could be a combination of cleaning the bedding, getting rid of the possibly spoiled FF and providing dry medicated feed instead. Maybe...

No blood at all in the stool, and I checked closely. I sat and watched their behaviour. Only one more looks off, but it's drinking and eating, just seems chilled.

Oh and get this.. our feed store does not sell corid or sulmet. What the heck am I supposed to treat if I get a real outbreak?

I was having a mold issue with the FF and a bug problem. I am not going to do it anymore. I will wet down feed for the summer and resume once the weather cools down. I can't keep it up in the heat while working full time.

Oh and today 100 degrees. Susan and I are bickering like crazy. I hate this heat. Tomorrow is 104. I took my parents' AC unit home for a test run. May end up buying one, because this summer is going to be something else.

 

[NanaLynn]

4 more dead chicks

sorry

 

[lalaland]

good to hear things are going better. I had that chick near death that with two sips of electrolytes turned around. its a mystery!

heat makes me crazy, and cranky, and short tempered. not a good combo with another person! hang in there.

 

[aoxa]

good to hear things are going better. I had that chick near death that with two sips of electrolytes turned around. its a mystery!

heat makes me crazy, and cranky, and short tempered. not a good combo with another person! hang in there.

Thanks. It's down to 78 in the room and I feel better already.

Funny thing those electrolytes! I will keep them on hand from now on.

PS: I have four broodies right now. 2 with chicks (shared mommy custody - wonder where they picked that up ) and two more with eggs. One silkie has 4 LF eggs (Barred Rock) and Gertie - the Crested Easter Egger (she has silkie in her) has 12 eggs. All different colours. I'm going to go take a picture of her nest, because the difference are so cute! She is brooding in the baby barn away from everyone else.

 

[delisha]

Justine,

I am glad they seem better. Keep up the good work.

Invest in a microscope and some slides. You can than test poo for anything..

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I am sorry for the rough spring. I can post something cheerful

This handsome boy is George my 10 week old BCM. I am not allowed to have roosters but he doesn't crow yet so he is welcome to stay till then. My first time with a Roo & I could just spend hours watching him he is so pretty. Still doesn't know he is a boy but it has been fun watching him grow. I hate to give him back to Sue (Sally8) but only because he is so pretty

Quote: Glad to hear the chicks are doing better. And I am jealous of all your broodies.......never had one & if I did get one I have no fertile eggs & am at my max of hens I can have. I can't wait to see the pictures

 

[aoxa]

Here are some pictures I just snapped quickly. She is the first of the basement babies to go broody. She's 6 months old, and the daughter of my craziest, most frequent broody hen. Only a matter of time before her sisters go broody as well (I have 3 more from the same mother).

 

[Eggcessive]

I was reading another thread last week involving a Canadian with a severe cocci outbreak. He was having a hard time getting Corid, but another Canadian said to look for amprollium which is the generic name.