Going weak and dieing.. why?

[cree57i]

Glad no bloody poop today. x2 on the coccidiosis! I bring my glasses and a flashlight for poop inspection every morning.

I haven't had loses in a few months now - knock wood. I attribute that to the toltrazuril, probiotics (I'm using Probios in their water), switching to deep litter (explain to me how having layers of dirty bedding helps, but it seems to - less dust maybe? reduces the flies, too - go figure), and moving the most susceptible off to their own grass pen. The weird thing is that fecal smears still showed coccidia when I last finished medicating them but they have been getting better since then. I did a necropsy on one bird that a possum killed. Her gut looked healthy. She had really long cecal pouches with enlarged ends - probably an after effect of the infection.

I'd think the grass would be OK if it hasn't had birds on in before/recently. There will likely be oocysts there but probably in low enough numbers for the chicks to fight it. I would take action before I saw bloody poop - if any birds look a little off or you see suspicious cecal poops (running or foamy). If you have a microscope, you can do a fecal smear to confirm. Kathy (CAsportpony) weighs hers on a schedule and intervenes if she sees slower growth or weight loss (at least for her peas). For me to weigh mine I'd have to put them in a sack.

Hope Ragnar is OK - he's a prince.

Thank you SO much. Actually, Ragnar survived Coccidia last year when he was a chick. He is good in every way!

I don't have a microscope, but I do have hemoccult cards and developer. I had another of those strange poops and it was gu+, but not strongly so. I am going to begin treating them. They got more kefir today. Since the toltrazuril suspension is all I have i am considering putting a few cc's in the food. Nobody looks puffed up, but I have good reason to be paranoid. These are Silverudd Blue and the line I got from Oregon have gotten coccidia both the other times I hatched them. I have them in a wire brooder 2 feet off the concrete. I wish I had gotten them on grass sooner, but my paranoia got the better of me. I did put my little Queen Silvia's on grass today and mixed up some kefir and toltrazuril feed for them. They are much hardier, in my experience, and hopefully can transition well.

I appreciate your input so very much! IDK how Kathy weighs them.

 

[zeppley]

Thank you SO much. Actually, Ragnar survived Coccidia last year when he was a chick. He is good in every way!

I don't have a microscope, but I do have hemoccult cards and developer. I had another of those strange poops and it was gu+, but not strongly so. I am going to begin treating them. They got more kefir today. Since the toltrazuril suspension is all I have i am considering putting a few cc's in the food. Nobody looks puffed up, but I have good reason to be paranoid. These are Silverudd Blue and the line I got from Oregon have gotten coccidia both the other times I hatched them. I have them in a wire brooder 2 feet off the concrete. I wish I had gotten them on grass sooner, but my paranoia got the better of me. I did put my little Queen Silvia's on grass today and mixed up some kefir and toltrazuril feed for them. They are much hardier, in my experience, and hopefully can transition well.

I appreciate your input so very much! IDK how Kathy weighs them.

The toltrazuril tastes slightly sweet so should be OK in the feed. I prefer to put it down their gullets so I know that all got their dose. If you are only giving them 0.3 mls and you can separate them, you can put it on bread and feed it to them one at a time. This does not work in a scrum! The pigs get all the meds and the shy ones that probably need it most get none.

I don't know about the Silverudd blue but I've read (and experienced) that the Blue/Black/Splash group tend to be more susceptible to coccidia. I haven't looked into the genetics yet - could be that these color genes are next to some genes affecting susceptibility.

I've been considering the coccidia vaccine because I am fond of black/blue/splash. Problem is that it comes in doses for thousands of birds, and not all species of Eimeria are covered - those that aren't covered then cause problems. Sigh. Nature - it's not your buddy.

Kathy starts early so her birds get used to getting weighed. I'd have to get another scale since we use ours for pasta. Also DH doesn't allow birds in the house, and especially not on the the kitchen counters. Geez.

 

[cree57i]

The toltrazuril tastes slightly sweet so should be OK in the feed. I prefer to put it down their gullets so I know that all got their dose. If you are only giving them 0.3 mls and you can separate them, you can put it on bread and feed it to them one at a time. This does not work in a scrum! The pigs get all the meds and the shy ones that probably need it most get none.

I don't know about the Silverudd blue but I've read (and experienced) that the Blue/Black/Splash group tend to be more susceptible to coccidia. I haven't looked into the genetics yet - could be that these color genes are next to some genes affecting susceptibility.

I've been considering the coccidia vaccine because I am fond of black/blue/splash. Problem is that it comes in doses for thousands of birds, and not all species of Eimeria are covered - those that aren't covered then cause problems. Sigh. Nature - it's not your buddy.

Kathy starts early so her birds get used to getting weighed. I'd have to get another scale since we use ours for pasta. Also DH doesn't allow birds in the house, and especially not on the the kitchen counters. Geez.

I cannot imagine mine doing that! I have leghorns too. They are pretty sure they are being killed if they are touched.

After I wrote the above, I was outside and one of the 3 month old SB cockerels came up to me and pooped bright red blood. That was the group I thought was ok. They have been free ranging over a month. The feed experiment continues. I am mixing about 3 ml/lb in medicated feed and since I am out of kefir using Save A Chick as the liquid. I also use the Probios. I have been putting that in the feed too. Nobody is free ranging today so I can watch more closely. I haven't seen and blood since starting this yesterday, but the day is early. So now instead of treating 25 chicks, the number is more like 75. I hope this works in the feed. All of them are eating well.

That is very interesting about the blue/black/splash correlation with coccidia. In my experience, it has only been BBS that have died. The leghorns seem to be more or less immune.

The vaccine would probably not be effective here. I have battled this so much, I think we must have the virulent strains.

 

[zeppley]

I was outside and one of the 3 month old SB cockerels came up to me and pooped bright red blood. That was the group I thought was ok. They have been free ranging over a month. The feed experiment continues. I am mixing about 3 ml/lb in medicated feed and since I am out of kefir using Save A Chick as the liquid. I also use the Probios. I have been putting that in the feed too. Nobody is free ranging today so I can watch more closely. I haven't seen and blood since starting this yesterday, but the day is early. So now instead of treating 25 chicks, the number is more like 75. I hope this works in the feed. All of them are eating well.

I know what you're going through.

Consider grabbing the ones you see pooping blood and giving them an oral dose in addition to the feed.
I HATE parasites.

 

[cree57i]

I know what you're going through.

Consider grabbing the ones you see pooping blood and giving them an oral dose in addition to the feed.
I HATE parasites.

Thank you SO much. I often feel like I'm the only one. I will do that.