treat cocciodosis

[sungirlb]

hi , does anybody know how old little chicks are to be treated with sulmet for cocciodosis. we hatched them ourselves. thanks

 

[Renee]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Do you think the chicks have coccidosis?

Have you been feeding them medicated chick starter?

 

[speckledhen]

What are their symptoms? Have they been on the soil yet?Hunched up like they are cold and hamburgery/mucousy poop are two symptoms of cocci. You don't treat them unless they actually have it.

Even with medicated feed, they can still be overwhelmed by the oocycsts in your soil. I always have to treat for cocci, even though I regularly use medicated feed. Amprolium in the feed may only help a bit, but it doesn't guarantee they won't get cocci. I treat with Corid liquid, which is really concentrated Amprolium.

 

[sungirlb]

thanks for the response. there just hatching .i've got 14 so far out of 18. i do feed them medicated but couldn't remember how old they are when you treat the babies.

 

[speckledhen]

You may never have to treat them. They may never develop cocci. Chicks are not treated for it unless the oocycsts in the soil overwhelm their systems and they begin showing symptoms. Medicated feed may help, but not necessarily prevent cocci.

 

[jvls1942]

we treat ours at about a week old with sulmet.. the turkeys get the same treatment.. I am not about to argue the point, but since we started doing this we have not had a problem with coccidiosis..

 

[DiVon80]

I feed a medicated starter/grower. I do no treat unless I see signs they may have issues with it. This last group 10 wks now. I had one with some issues and a loose stool I gave her yogert w/ syringe and left her get threw it on her own. Makes a stronger flock if they can get threw things on there own. In general for myself and DH I work with supplements to keep immune system strong. Save antibiotice for extreme situtations. Maybe even never.

 

[speckledhen]

The problem with Sulmet is that it is very hard on their systems. Sulmet does not work here. It's not effective against eimeria tenella, one of the nine types of cocci, which is probably what is in my soil, so I no longer use it. I always recommend using Corid as the first defense against cocci over Sulmet because if they already have intestinal bleeding, Sulmet has a tendency to make it continue longer, being so hard on the system. Treating with sulfa drugs or antibiotics when there is no reason to is an extra stress on the system, IMO, and only creates super-bugs that are resistant.
That said, with the issues here with cocci in our soil, every group of chicks that hits the ground (where the oocycsts are) gets cocci, so at the point I put them outside, I may begin a week long treatment with Corid (concentrated Amprolium) as a matter of course. If I had no cocci issues here, I wouldn't do that. 4-8 weeks is usually when you see the symptoms if they're going to get it.

 

[sungirlb]

thanks everybody for the help.

 

[threehorses]

Honestly, why treat them with what is an antibiotic when their gut bacteria are just getting established? You kill the good bacteria that will *cause* them to avoid gut illnesses that way.

Keep feeding your babies medicated food. it has Coccidiostat (prevention) in it. Keep them very dry and clean. If you want to prevent problems, boost the good bacteria with probiotics rather than killing the good bacteria for an illness that isn't even there yet!

If your babies have coccidiosis at anything under a month, it's environmental and dietary. Period. They're getting too much mess and too little inside defense.

With my babies, IF I get a batch that someone else has hatched that have any possible problems, I use a little Ornabac (from the petstore), probios or fastrack from the feedstore, Acidophilus capsules (not tablets) from the health store or grocers, or plain yogurt mixed with some boiled egg yolk. (The rate is 1/4 teaspoon per one egg yolk. That allows the good bacteria to get established more quickly.

Too many antibiotics, especially for no reason, not only make sick humans - they make unthrifty and medicine-dependant chickens. Take advantage of the way that their avian systems were "designed" and get them super healthy from the start. They'll mature better, feather better, and generally be able to 'get over' more illnesses they'll naturally be exposed to in the future.

Good luck!