Long Term Hard Molt, Coccidiosis or Worms

[BurbCoop]

This hen went through hard hard molt over the winter, but it was almost like she couldn’t get out of it. Just as I was thinking her feathers were coming back in and her comb and wattles were starting to get red again, she would start looking scruffy and her face would get pale.

This particular hen has always had somewhat loose stools, but they were particularly bad during this long term molt. There would be an almost 8-10” wet area around her poop off the roost each morning. She would fluff up on the roost just like all of our other hens have when molting and looked generally disheveled. She seemed to eat drink fine, but kept a low profile from the rest of the flock, not abnormally for her as she is low on the pecking order.

I decided to start the flock on a round of CORID to see if by chance Coccidiosis might be the culprit. It is very hard to find vets that will do a fecal float around here, and the ones that will want to charge over $100.

Anyways, we’re five days into the CORID treatment and the huge wet area was noticeably gone this morning, however, it looked like some intestinal lining was present in her droppings off the roost. She seems to be feathering out now and her comb and wattles appear to be less pale today. (the pic above is from today)

Couple of questions:

1.) Is it normal for the intestinal lining to shed while going through a round of CORID?

2.) Once the CORID treatment is complete, should I deworm just to cover my bases? (recommendations on dewormer?)

 

[coach723]

I would go ahead and worm her as well after the Corid. Increased intestinal shed can be caused by worms. You can use either Safeguard liquid goat wormer or Safeguard horse paste, or you can use Valbazen (labeled for cattle). Safeguard is usually available locally, the Valbazen would need to be ordered online. Dosing for Safeguard (either form) is .25 ml per pound of body weight, orally, once a day for 5 days in a row. Dosing for Valbazen is .5 ml for a standard sized bird, two doses 10 days apart, orally. (math for dosing Valbazen is "weight in lbs / 2.2 X 20 mg / 113.6" )

 

[BurbCoop]

I would go ahead and worm her as well after the Corid. Increased intestinal shed can be caused by worms. You can use either Safeguard liquid goat wormer or Safeguard horse paste, or you can use Valbazen (labeled for cattle). Safeguard is usually available locally, the Valbazen would need to be ordered online. Dosing for Safeguard (either form) is .25 ml per pound of body weight, orally, once a day for 5 days in a row. Dosing for Valbazen is .5 ml for a standard sized bird, two doses 10 days apart, orally. (math for dosing Valbazen is "weight in lbs / 2.2 X 20 mg / 113.6" )

Much appreciated! I’ll see if I can hunt down some Safeguard from one of the local farm supply stores (they can be hit or miss). If not, I’ll grab it online.

 

[Eggcessive]

Be sure to shake it well before drawing up the dose with a syringe. TSC usually has it:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/merck-animal-health-safe-guard-dewormer-for-goats-125ml

 

[BurbCoop]

Update: The hen was run on a round of CORID, then dewormed with Safeguard. No noticeable difference in the diarrhea, it is still extremely watery with liquified solids. Took the hen to a vet and had a fecal done, the vet actually got to witness the diarrhea first hand in the office. Fecal came back negative. ($111.00 )

At this point, I’m kind of at a loss on what is going on here. I’m having to clean the coop quite frequently because this hen is leaving giant wet spots and diarrhea off the roost at night, which is attracting flies. It does not appear to be contagious as no one else in the flock has had similar symptoms and this has been going on for quite some time.

She is eating, drinking and laying. She did lay a couple wrinkled eggs recently, just on the top half of the egg. She has also always laid oblong eggs on occasion, with a pretty long one this week.

She is bottom of the pecking order, so it’s possible there is some stress involved with the wrinkled eggs.

Any thoughts or ideas of what we can try next to try and knock down this diarrhea?

 

[nuthatched]

What's her diet?
How's her crop feel?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update: The hen was run on a round of CORID, then dewormed with Safeguard. No noticeable difference in the diarrhea, it is still extremely watery with liquified solids. Took the hen to a vet and had a fecal done, the vet actually got to witness the diarrhea first hand in the office. Fecal came back negative. ($111.00 )

At this point, I’m kind of at a loss on what is going on here. I’m having to clean the coop quite frequently because this hen is leaving giant wet spots and diarrhea off the roost at night, which is attracting flies. It does not appear to be contagious as no one else in the flock has had similar symptoms and this has been going on for quite some time.

She is eating, drinking and laying. She did lay a couple wrinkled eggs recently, just on the top half of the egg. She has also always laid oblong eggs on occasion, with a pretty long one this week.

She is bottom of the pecking order, so it’s possible there is some stress involved with the wrinkled eggs.

Any thoughts or ideas of what we can try next to try and knock down this diarrhea?

I'm sorry your not seeing a lot of improvement.

Can you get current photos of the poop and of the eggs?

You mention Wrinkled Eggs, is there a history of respiratory illness within your flock?

Have you tried giving probiotics to see if this will help? You can use purchased probiotics, give 1Tablespoon of quality plain yogurt daily or give her a little white cooked rice with buttermilk to see if the consistency of the poop improves.

For the poops overnight, try to scoop what you can to help deter flies. Do you have droppings boards or how is your roosting area done? Sweet PDZ on the poop/droppings boards can help a little with liquid poop.

 

[BurbCoop]

What's her diet?
How's her crop feel?

The flock is currently on grower feed because there are some newer pullets. Otherwise, they are on NatureWise Hearty Hen layer. Always available free choice oyster shells.

They occasional get fresh leafy greens.

Crop feels somewhat mushy this evening on the roost. I’ll check in the morning to see if it emptied.

 

[nuthatched]

The flock is currently on grower feed because there are some newer pullets. Otherwise, they are on NatureWise Hearty Hen layer. Always available free choice oyster shells.

They occasional get fresh leafy greens.

Crop feels somewhat mushy this evening on the roost. I’ll check in the morning to see if it emptied.

Have you tried some probiotics?

 

[BurbCoop]

I'm sorry your not seeing a lot of improvement.

Can you get current photos of the poop and of the eggs?

You mention Wrinkled Eggs, is there a history of respiratory illness within your flock?

Have you tried giving probiotics to see if this will help? You can use purchased probiotics, give 1Tablespoon of quality plain yogurt daily or give her a little white cooked rice with buttermilk to see if the consistency of the poop improves.

For the poops overnight, try to scoop what you can to help deter flies. Do you have droppings boards or how is your roosting area done? Sweet PDZ on the poop/droppings boards can help a little with liquid poop.

Thanks for the response. No respiratory illness that I am aware of. I’ve never seen signs or symptoms of IBV.

We’ve tried multiple sources of probiotics, as well as supplements like Hydro Hen and Chicken E-lixer at the recommendation of the vet.

Poop is getting picked up off the poop board daily to every other day depending on the work schedule. We do keep our coop pretty clean. I do use PDZ to help absorb some moisture and keep things dry. Definitely try to prevent flies and the possibility of fly strike as much as possible.

I’ll try to get pics of eggs and poop tomorrow.