Coccidiosis?!

[Stanley]

Hi, its been a while, was just browsing and looking for info, and just reading up on things..
Just reading about coccidiosis, and just wondering of symptoms, have read up a bit, but was wondering if all the symptoms would be present?
I could just be worrying though!
Had on old hen sat in the coop almost being 'broody' and as shes an older hen we kept getting her out, she seemed sort of bloated looking and ruffled her feathers when first out, but proceeded to eat and drink normally, scratch around quite a lot, and want to go back in, she has been fine ever since and then just came out and stayed out one day, shes started doing it again though..
but shes been eating and drinking normally and going to the toilet normally too?
so ive just kept an eye on her, but after reading a thread that mentioned coccidiosis im now worrying!
or if it could be anything else 19

 

[Stanley]

also forgot to add she didnt seem lethargic or unwilling to move, and did run round ect

 

[chrismahon]

Could be loads of things Stanley, the least likely of which is probably Coccidiosis. If her poos are normal it's not that. Could just be getting old. Their brain seems to fail a bit, particularly when moulting. We've got two oldies just going into the moult and they don't know where they are half the time! Bit of extra protein may help. These two have fogotten what a grain treat is and now ignore the rattling tray, which makes getting them into the run and away from the fox a bit of a chore.

 

[Chuck]

Doesn't sound like cocci. Does sound like broody !

 

[Stanley]

Yeah definitely could be anything!
not looking moulty yet, but with the silly weather all animals are confused! :roll:
what am i looking for poo wise for coccidiosis?
one was slightly wetter today, but again normal looking, and have seen normal hens with occasional funny poo as being free range i have to trust them a bit not to go lick a toad or something :lol:
just worrying a bit, bu they have all been broody, but getting them out so they stretch, eat, drink, see them go to the toilet, have a scratch, roll around and let them back in
thank you!

 

[Marigold]

Have a look here http://poultrykeeper.com/digestive-system-problems/ for more on coccidiosis. If there's no blood in her droppings and she seems OK apart from being a bit under the weather it's most probably not that. As she's an older hen and is looking bloated, I'd think possibly she's eggbound, older hens do get to the point where they are prone to this. Has she been laying lately? If so, were herveggs normal, or did they have soft shells and funny shapes? What breed is she? Is she a hybrid layer? Ive found with hybrids especially that the price of all that excellent egglaying in the early years tends to be bloating, egg binding and general reproductive system problems once they get towards the end of lay.

 

[Stanley]

Thank you!
And no, havent looked today (had a lay in ) but has been no blood
she doesnt even seem under the weather, just sat in the nest boxes, as when i remove her shes being normal, just wants to go back to bed!
im not sure about laying, ours lay all over the place and our battery hens sometimes go in their coop to lay, but there re several eggs now so a few are laying..
shes just your normal orange hen, although she is all speckledy, but yeah, if shes stopping laying thats fine, but isnt eggbound bad? eep!

 

[chrismahon]

Sounds like a 'quiet' broody Stanley. We have a few that make no outward signs of being broody, just stay in the nest box. If left in there long enough the noises and ruffled feathers plus glazed look become apparent. So I agree with Chuck.

 

[Stanley]

Thats fine then!
as long as she comes out for a stretch and some dinner and a drink she can sit in her bed and be boring, i mean er broody

 

[Stanley]

But thank you again!