Bloody poop or blueberries? Corid or wait? - New questions

[ChandraM]

I'm a newbie to chickens (9 weeks), so want to get advice on how to proceed. I have Corid liquid but don't want to use in case it is just a case of one too many blueberries. First I'll answer the important questions, then tell the story lower in the post.

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Not sure which chick, all are acting normal. The poo in question was from the 9 week old chick area. Chicks grew up together from day 1. 2 Americauna/EEs, 2 Buff Orps, 1 Delaware, 1 Brown Leghorn.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
No change in behavior, some panting and fluffed feathers, but it has been really hot here and that is normally what they do when they are hot. It is not excessive. Eating and drinking normally. Behaving normal.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Found suspicious red poop this morning on roost shelf.

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No other red poop today in run or coop.

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Started outdoor access just over a week ago. Frozen blueberries as treats due to heat.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Organic chick starter crumbles. Plain water from nipples. Occasional water from traditional mason jar waterer with electrolytes and probiotics. Frozen blueberries (2-4 per bird per day), some chopped ripe tomatoes, plain organic yogurt, chick grit.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Poop in question was runny and red this morning, definitely looked like blood. Now has dried and is kind of reddish purple and looks like too many blueberries.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
None

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Treat myself, as my local vet is not super fluent in chicken. She can do egg binding and prolapse help, but not much beyond that in her words. I'm pretty good with 1st aid and my husband is not squeamish at all.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
See pic of poop. Found around 7:30 this morning, pic from about 6pm.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
Indoor is pine shavings, deep litter method (although only about 4 weeks old, new shavings added each week & stirred).
Outdoor run is enclosed, sandy soil that was dug up to line the bottom with hardware cloth about 10 days ago. Dirt is about 4-6 inches deep above hardware cloth. We have serious predators.

Story: I've had the big girls 9 weeks since they were day old chicks. They moved to outdoor coop about a month ago, then added outdoor run about a week ago. Also this weekend 4 of the leghorns I was raising for a friend were transferred to her (left the nest as it were).
About 2 weeks ago I ordered 4-5 week old chicks from McMurray hatchery and they are in a brooder setup in the storage area of my coop. Same building, I know not the best, but the chicks are from a very reputable hatchery. The peeps do not mix, but hand/air transfer is possible.

This weekend was very hot, so I have been giving a few frozen blueberries as treats to help cool the girls off. Sunday was the last day of blueberries. Monday there was what looked like a very small piece of intestinal lining in the little girls brooder. I took it out and closely examined it and there were no worms, no abnormal behavior, and no repeats. Monday after the lining poop I gave everybody some yogurt that would eat it (the little girls haven't really figured out treats yet, so not all of them partook). The bigger girls LOVED the yogurt.
Tuesday morning I found the suspect bloody/blueberry poop on the little roosting shelf in the bigger girls coop area. No repeat, no unusual behavior.

If it were only 1 of the areas with no repeat and totally normal behavior I would probably wait and watch closely. But with the little girls intestinal lining poop one day and the big girls red poop the next I'm a little worried. Like I said, I have the Corid, and probiotic, and electrolyte, and yogurt. I'm ready to give any or all or none, I just don't want to miss something and have one of my girls suffer or worse, die from Coccidiosis.

 

[ChandraM]

I forgot to add that since there was no more suspicious poop in the coop or run, I can't take a sample for a fecal to the vet. The stuff from this morning is dried onto the board.
So I inspected the vent on all of the big girls and everything looks normal, no signs of redness, swelling, leftover bits of blood in the feathers. Nothing. Totally normal behavior for when I am picking them up and inspecting their lady bits. Which is mostly docile, kind of put out, and the Liza the leghorn peeping like the dickens. She only likes to be pet or held on her terms. Everybody else was just as friendly as normal, no signs of tenderness.

 

[Eggcessive]

That looks bloody to me. I just fed a whole pint of blueberries to mine a few days ago, and everyone had dark blue-green poops. I would really keep an eye out for any lethargic or puffed up chick, and start the Corid with any more blood or signs. It won't hurt them to treat them any way.

 

[abserbean]

That looks bloody to me. I just fed a whole pint of blueberries to mine a few days ago, and everyone had dark blue-green poops. I would really keep an eye out for any lethargic or puffed up chick, and start the Corid with any more blood or signs. It won't hurt them to treat them any way.

X2, my girls eat lots of blueberries, and they only seem to "come out" blue/green and dark.

 

[ChandraM]

I just spent an hour or so with the peeps, and everyone is acting normal. I work from home tomorrow, so I'll monitor very closely and start Corid if anything comes up. For tonight I gave everyone some water with sav-a-chick probiotics and electrolyte. I'll check them again in an hour or so at bedtime. I'm trying to err on the side of caution, but not over-react....

 

[ChandraM]

UGH! I found a little bit of bloody poop. So starting the Corid ASAP.

1. To confirm - I have the liquid, so:
1 tsp per gallon to treat, and if it gets more severe I can up to 2 tsp per gallon.
Treat for 3-5 days, then go to 1/2 tsp per gallon for 1-2 weeks.

2. Can I put the Corid solution in nipple waterers? Or will it corrode them?

3. I am starting out my deep litter method, about 4 weeks in. Do I need to clean everything out and start over?

4. I had planned on moving the 6 week old chicks into the main coop area with the 9 week old chicks this weekend (would be after 3-4 days of treatment). If there are no more bloody poops, is this ok, or should I wait longer?

5. I have been giving electrolyte and probiotics in water. I will stop that due to replacing water with Corid solution. At what point should I start giving again, and can it be mixed in the same water?

6. Is it a good idea to give some yogurt or the probiotic powder with their food? Or should I just stick with the Corid and not cause further problems?

My plan is to treat all chicks even though the 6 week old ones aren't showing signs.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would give the severe dose of 2 tsp (or 9.6ml) per gallon--there is no reason not to. Leave out the electrolytes. Probiotics on the food would be fine. After the Corid is finished, then give vitamins and probiotics for at least 3 days. I have no answer about the nipple waterers and Corid--I don't think it is corrosive, but I can't say. Here is a good article on coccidiosis to read: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616

 

[ChandraM]

Thank you!!

 

[vtscapeartist]

I discovered bloody poops my chicks coop today. Saw another post similar but thought I would start with the questions below:

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Red Rangers - 6 wks old, not sure of weight but all seem the same-no one looks thin or gaunt.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Active, all eating as usual, no one stands out to be lethargic or sick.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
First noticed today.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Hard to ID who is sick in flock of 24 birds
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No changes in diet, housing or any trauma to the birds
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Plain water from gravity feed water jugs, organic broiler crumbles and weeds from veggie garden.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Runny and bloody. Some whitish and creamy runny parts.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
None. Just cleaned all water and feed containers and removed all litter.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Not aware of any vet in my area who treats chickens so I'd be on my own.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I'll post a picture when I can get one uploaded.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Deep litter management using soil from my garden, and clean dry pine shavings as litter/bedding over wood floor.

 

[Eggcessive]

I discovered bloody poops my chicks coop today. Saw another post similar but thought I would start with the questions below:

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Red Rangers - 6 wks old, not sure of weight but all seem the same-no one looks thin or gaunt.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Active, all eating as usual, no one stands out to be lethargic or sick.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
First noticed today.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Hard to ID who is sick in flock of 24 birds
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No changes in diet, housing or any trauma to the birds
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Plain water from gravity feed water jugs, organic broiler crumbles and weeds from veggie garden.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Runny and bloody. Some whitish and creamy runny parts.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
None. Just cleaned all water and feed containers and removed all litter.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Not aware of any vet in my area who treats chickens so I'd be on my own.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I'll post a picture when I can get one uploaded.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Deep litter management using soil from my garden, and clean dry pine shavings as litter/bedding over wood floor.

So that we don't all get confused here it would be best if you copied and pasted your post onto your own new thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/threads/add/forumId/10

I would start all of your chicks on Corid right away today--2 tsp per gallon of the liquid, or 1 and 1/2 tsp of the powder per gallon of water for 5 days.