Topic of the Week - Coccidiosis

[sumi]

Pic by @Hippy Pete
​

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that damages the tissue of the gut, causing bleeding which can be seen in poultry's droppings and is often the first good sign of what you are dealing with. Younger chickens (under 6 months) are more at risk as they haven’t yet had time to develop their natural immunity, however, adult birds can also become affected. This week I would like to talk about coccidiosis in more detail. Specifically:

- Signs and symptoms
- How to accurately diagnose it
- What is the best treatment(s) and what natural treatments can be used in emergencies, to save the bird(s) affected
- What preventative measures can be taken against an outbreak in the flock?

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

 

[azygous]

If you have a lethargic chick or adult chicken, beak gaping, stumbling around, preferring to lie down rather than run around engaging in normal activity, regardless of seeing blood in the droppings, I suspect coccidiosis and treat with Corid. You don't need to have confirmation to treat and the time saved can save lives.

The way to accurately diagnose coccidiosis is to get a stool sample to a vet or an agricultural lab and have a fecal float test performed to see if coccidia eggs are present. But collect the stool samples before you begin the Corid treatment.

Corid (amprolium) is the best treatment as it inhibits vitamin B (thiamine) that the coccidia parasites ( more than one species) thrive on. The best natural treatment, though not a cure, is probiotics that strengthen the immune system and gut culture to exclude the coccidia parasites.

The best way to prevent coccidiosis is to follow good bio-security practices because it can be spread from flock to flock on soles of shoes and borrowed implements. A flock that is immune to its local coccidia may quickly sicken and die when exposed to coccidia from another neighborhood.

Clean water and uncontaminated food are a must. Feeding on the ground isn't a good practice especially on damp soil. Good ventilation to promote a dry, clean environment is crucial. Overcrowding also should be avoided.

Exposing baby chicks to the local soil during the first couple weeks after hatch is an excellent way to inoculate them and help build immunity. Many of us toss a clump of grass still attached to the soil into the brooder for the chicks to eat and scratch at. You may also use medicated feed to help them build immunity to coccidia. Coccidiosis vaccine is also available, but you mustn't use medicated feed if your chicks have received this vaccine.

Coccidia are present everywhere but this doesn't need to threaten your flock as long as you follow good management practices.

 

[Kiki]

Be aware that feeding 'extra vitamins' while using an Amprolium product may cause the product to NOT work. (Corid)

http://www.armchairpatriot.com/Home-Vet/Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook [Desk Ed.] 6th ed. - D. Plumb (Blackwell, 2008) WW.pdf
Page 62
Pharmacology/Actions section states:

EXCESSIVE thiamine in a diet can reduce or REVERSE the anticoccidial activity of the drug.


What I found out recently is that Cocci and Coccidiosis are two different things.

Coccidiosis is common in chicks and older chickens.

 

[casportpony]

Technically, according to my vet, cocci is not coccidiosis. I used to say cocci, but not since she corrected me, lol.

@KikisGirls , where it that thread that explains the difference?

I hate to nit-pick, but there is some terminology floating around this board that has been bothering me. Cocci and Coccidia are NOT the same organism. Cocci refer any microorganism (usually bacteria) that are spherical in shape. The singular term for this is Coccus. Coccidia are a type of protozoa and are parasites. Both may be present in and/or cause diarrhea, but are not the same.
Source

 

[N F C]

Technically, according to my vet, cocci is not coccidiosis. I used to say cocci, but not since she corrected me, lol.

@KikisGirls , where it that thread that explains the difference?

Good to know...I was under the impression that cocci was just a shortened word for coccidiosis.

 

[azygous]

I forgot to add that you need to treat the entire flock if you suspect even one individual has cocci. It's that contagious. (Cocci is short for coccidiosis.)

It's interesting that cocci includes several species, not just a single organism. While the organisms don't mutate like viruses, the chickens develop immunity over time to the cocci present in their local soil, but the immunity is not good for different species cocci brought in from another locale. You need to be always on the alert.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have sadly had coccidiosis several times in my flock. Once very mild. Once fairly significant.

The mild I treated with extended amprolium based medicated feed. The significant infection I treated with Sulmet, which worked very well. After that, I fed medicated feed until point of lay.

Who gets coccidiosis, in my flock, largely depends upon where I get the chick.

Those that are broody hatched don't seem to have any problems.

Those I purchase at a feed store and then place with a hen, or worse, brood under heat lamp for a couple of weeks then place in grow out pen, have the problems.

I've also gotten young pullets from a breeder, put in isolation, and noticed they seemed to have problems (possibly brought with them).

I live in a wet, mild climate, that doesn't get long freezing winters, so coccidia tend to grow in my soil. Some areas of Oregon are horrible for coccidia...it is the bane of the area.

So, my best plan of action is to broody hatch and raise within my closed flock, bringing no chicks or birds in.

When I get the itch for a new breed that hasn't hatched from purchased eggs, I have resorted to purchasing chicks or pullets. I find that's when I've got to feed medicated feed to all chicks since I use the same brooding hutch/grow out pen.

Coccidia grow exponentially in infected birds who then leave the oocysts with their droppings. The soil can build up very quickly, so once you have an outbreak, it is easier and easier to get another unless careful measures are taken.

Since I had my worst outbreak several seasons ago, with feed store brooded chicks (they wouldn't foster well), I have turned over the pine shavings/soil (cleaned out, put in fresh). Fortuntately, we also had a good freezing winter this last year (yeah!) in which I left that broody hutch/pen fallow for 6 months. Then, before bringing into use again, I scrubbed it out with lots of hydrogen peroxide detergent (33% concentration....let soak...then rinse until clean).

This season, I haven't seen any problems again. I've also only grown chicks hatched under broodies.

Coccidiosis is a nasty infestation. Not only can it take a chick very quickly, sadly, it often leaves their guts compromised creating an unthriftiness that is hard to overcome. I also suspicion those remain susceptible and reinfect the flock or continue to create build up in the soil....hence my measures for control.

I do keep ACV in the water (raw with mother, no metal containers).as that is just a good acidifier for the gut, to help prevent coccidia build up. I also make sure my birds get good probiotics, another gut enhancer. Sadly, those won't treat a heavy infestation for me. Only meds seem to work for me for that.

Just my experiences in my neck of the woods.
LofMc

 

[casportpony]

Here is the thread:

Just a friendly reminder on coccidiosis vs cocci​

 

[azygous]

This might shed light on the confusion. http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publi...nagement/41/life-cycle-and-types-of-coccidia/

 

[Eggcessive]

Most people who had high school biology know that cocci is the plural for a type of bacteria (coccus, bacillus, spirillum.) But when posting about coccidiosis and writing the whole word many times, I am guilty of also using cocci as an abbreviation for coccidia/coccidiosis.

I have never seen coccidiosis in my flock in almost 7 years. Azygous' method of placing a big clump of sod in a chick's brooder has always seemed to be helpful in prevention, whether it has been my good fortune, or has helped them gradually built up resistance. In my opinion, if chicks are kept in a super clean brooder for 5-6 weeks, then suddenly put out on soil, then it would be a huge change to be exposed to coccidia oocysts in the dirt. ?There are some coccidia in the chicks' gut, but soil is full of it. Chicks raised by broody hens tend to have a resistance due to their early exposure.