Coccidiosis

[Lucylou]

Following the previous topic, I re-read the article on Coccidiosis through more informed eyes its started me wondering.

I have one or maybe 2 chooks who are 'pooing' slightly bloody, runny poos & I'm now wondering if I should treat with Coxoid. When I first brought the chooks home one was doing bloody poos overnight (it was easy to see in the coup) I didn't realise how serious this could be & put it down to the change of food etc. The chook who I'm almost sure had these symptoms is now OK & the biggest of them all.

I haven't been able to identify which ones might have these 'poos' so does anyone know if you can give Coxoid treatment to chooks who haven't got the infection or would it do harm?

 

[snifter]

I'd be very wary giving Coxiod to chicks or young chooks. I'd also not give it willy nilly to all your stock if you are not certain of them having it. Its not the sort of stuff you give lightly. If you are not sure which ones have the problem then you need to find out asap and separate them from the others.

Are you sure its not the normal blood in poo type thing which can happen? It looks more like a worm but blood coloured (but more solid than loose) and is iirc something to do with the insides and quite normal to happen from time to time.

If it were Coccidiosis I'd not expect a chook to just recover and be well a few days later. And I'd also expect more to fall ill and to start dying.

 

[Lucylou]

Thanks for the answer Snifter.
Since posting I found a very detailed article in an old poulty keeping book about this. It said that Coccidiosis usually affects young chooks (4 -16 weeks approx) because they haven't developed any immunity to this. Mine are 13 & 17weeks. With your info & this book I don't think its Coccidiosis but a couple have definately got something which is making them have runny poo, although its different in each one of the affected chooks!!! I've narrowed it down to which ones but now not sure of the treatment, I think if it was going to go naturally it would have cleared up by now.
Any suggestions gratefully accepted!

 

[Anonymous]

Could you keep them just on their usual chook food for a few days, with no treats and see what happens.
Having a plain diet,if something in their diet is causing this would show it up.Also,if they seem well in every other way,is it perhaps just normal for these two to do 'loser' poo's then the rest of your flock?

 

[Tim]

Any news Lucylou? Are they any better yet?

I think it could be a number of things but I wouldn't rule out Coccidiosis. Chickens loose a lot of liquid and cannot absorb nutrients from their food and will soon die if left untreated but you will no doubt find they loose lots of weight. Eimeria is the parasite that causes this, living inside the cells that line the birds intestines. It's when they reproduce and multiply they cause bleeding in the intestines that then passes out.

Here's a little info on Coxoid