Thought she had an impacted crop - bloody poo - Cocci?

[Whispering_Raven]

Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I posted on this site. I have a 7-8 week old partridge rock and she's not feeling well at all. I went out this afternoon to refresh water and all my babies came running except for her. I found her under a tree, standing/wobbling, lethargic, one eye closed. I picked her up and she fell heavily into the crux of my arm. Her crop felt bad, like she swallowed a rock whole! She was acting like she was gasping for air so I immediately thought "crop issue". I brought her inside and she sipped some warm water and continued to rest on my lap. I sat her in a box and she stood for a little while, still with only one eye open, drank water on her own, preened for a few minutes and then poo'd. What I thought was an impacted crop may be worse. I think she may have cocci. I called TSC to see if they had any corid, and they do not. I will call the Co-op in the morning. There were no signs on illness before this. She has been happy, flying, running, eating, drinking...This is very sudden and I'm quite nervous, not only for her, but everyone else. It's bedtime so she's sleeping in the box and it's hard to tell the level of lethargy.

I'm still worried about her crop. Could she have ingested something that got lodged? Is that even possible? I certainly do not know if she has cocci, but how quickly does this disease kill chickens? If she does have it, will she make it through the night or is this pretty fatal right away? What do I do if my local co-op doesn't have Corid? Is there another brand I should be looking for? Could she be parasitic and maybe an irritation of the lining caused this fecal matter? This is the first time I've seen this. There is nothing like this in the hen house, but they free range during the day, so it would be hard to tell.

Any guidance anyone can provide on this would be appreciated. Thanks everyone! - Tracy

 

[Eggcessive]

You were right to try to get Corid since that looks like coccidosis with the bloody stool. Tomorrow, if you can't get Corid, try Ampromed which some stores carry that is the same as Corid, sulfadimethoxine (Di-methox, Albon, or Sulfamed G,) or Sulmet in that order. First thing in the morning, try giving the chick some buttermilk soaked in bread (or use whole milk if you don't have buttermilk) to coat the intestines until you get the meds. A slowly emptying crop can happen with cocci. Chicks with cocci frequently stop eating, but they can stop drinking later, so you may need to dose them with a syringe or dropper to get the meds in them. I would prefer the liquid Corid since you can give a drop or two undiluted if they won't drink, but the powder is fine too.

 

[Whispering_Raven]

Thank you very much. I hope the co-op has the meds. I assume I should treat the entire flock as a precaution?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes I would treat them if they are all together, and under the age of being immune to cocci. If new birds have been added recently, definitely treat everyone.

 

[bantybabylover]

sulmet isnt as effective as corid. i had this happen to my new flock and had to treat the whole bunch. it hit fast and we lost 7. it was heartbreaking. i did follow up with some probiotics and electrolytes, keep on eye on them because this cocci can cause an immune depletion and they can come down with another illness easily, i gave them 48 hours and had to treat for another illness with tetracycline, thankfully i now have a robust and healthy flock. i hate that we lost a fav, 2 orps, a banty rooster and a fave silkie with others.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sulmet is effective on the worst 2 strains. The only problem with sulfa drugs is that they can be hard on the kidneys, and they don't treat all 9 or so strains of cocci in chickens. If Sulmet is the only medicine your farm store carries, then I would use it. Corid is the drug of choice since it treats all 9 strains. In other countries than the US other drugs may be used such a toltrazuril.

 

[Whispering_Raven]

Thank you both very much. I hate that this happened. Yes, they are all in the same house together, although I brought this one inside the people house tonight. This is a new flock but not with other birds. I wish I knew how she/they caught it. I've never experienced this before. I love them all, but she just happens to be one that I've really bonded with. I would hate to lose her. :-(

 

[iwiw60]

Yes I would treat them if they are all together, and under the age of being immune to cocci. If new birds have been added recently, definitely treat everyone.

Having never dealt with cocci with my little flock, I read your post with great interest. You stated ... "and under the age of being immune to cocci." My girls are 14-15 weeks old now, does that mean they are somewhat immune at this age? Enlighten this 'ol senior gal, please!!

 

[Whispering_Raven]

She woke up a few minutes ago and poo'd again but it looks just like the previous. :-( I'm hoping the co-op has the corid but I will bring the list of the others in case they don't. @ iwiw60, I believe once they start laying it's pretty hard for them to get Cocci, but someone may have a more specific answer. I've never experienced this before and BYC is such a great resource. Tonight, I am especially thankful for the experience and guidance of others.

 

[bantybabylover]

got to say if it werent for this site and the generous information from others i too would have been lost and so would my flock, feel free to pose questions here. the people are good to answer them, and i suspect you will need dosage answered because its confusing on the label.