Severe Coccidiosis??

[JGerz]

Never had an issue with coccidia before. To note, we have an existing flock that we grew from 8 hens and a Rooster to now 22 mixed birds (Australorp Roo, Australorp hens, and Buff Orps and Rhode Island hens). But okay, so this hit our sort-of recently purchased, July 4th, 2025, 12-dozen Barred Rock pullets hard all at once, and the brooder box is always clean, up until we had a 2 week gap where my wife and I had our newborn and I fell behind. We are in Northeastern Maryland and it has been excruciatingly hot and humid. Woke up one morning to provide fresh feed and water as I do daily, and 2 birds were dead and I noticed bloody mucus stool. With 12 hours, 1 other bird died, but this one I witnessed seizure and it appeared her crop refluxed up through her beak and the poor bird just slowly passed... I have currently started them on Corid water (with sugar mixed in to encourage them to drink more) and nothing else, and the Toltrazuril is on it's way. They all appear lethargic and more calm than usual, but now I have no clue if this is something viral or bacterial. Anyone have any experience as to what I am witnessing?? I appreciate all the insight ya'll have to give!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Never had an issue with coccidia before. To note, we have an existing flock that we grew from 8 hens and a Rooster to now 22 mixed birds (Australorp Roo, Australorp hens, and Buff Orps and Rhode Island hens). But okay, so this hit our sort-of recently purchased, July 4th, 2025, 12-dozen Barred Rock pullets hard all at once, and the brooder box is always clean, up until we had a 2 week gap where my wife and I had our newborn and I fell behind. We are in Northeastern Maryland and it has been excruciatingly hot and humid. Woke up one morning to provide fresh feed and water as I do daily, and 2 birds were dead and I noticed bloody mucus stool. With 12 hours, 1 other bird died, but this one I witnessed seizure and it appeared her crop refluxed up through her beak and the poor bird just slowly passed... I have currently started them on Corid water (with sugar mixed in to encourage them to drink more) and nothing else, and the Toltrazuril is on it's way. They all appear lethargic and more calm than usual, but now I have no clue if this is something viral or bacterial. Anyone have any experience as to what I am witnessing?? I appreciate all the insight ya'll have to give!

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your losses.

Do you have photos of the chicks, housing and poop?

At this age, are they in a brooder or coop?

Make sure you are giving the correct dosing for Corid. It's good that you have Endocox (Toltrazuril) on the way.

Lethargy, hunched up, etc. can be symptoms of Coccidiosis. Seizures can be too, depending on how severe.

I'm not sure what was going on with the crop refluxed? Do you mean you saw tissue coming out of the beak? If so, that may have been a salivary gland issue, not sure, if you have photos that may help. https://bitchinchickens.com/2023/02/20/case-study-mucocele-damaged-salivary-gland-in-chickens/

Are they still eating o.k.? You can also make a wet mash with your mixed Corid water to get just a bit more into them.

Liquid Corid dose is 2tsp or Powdered Corid Dose is 1 1/2tsp per gallon of water given for 5-7 days as the only source of drinking water.
Do not add any extra vitamins/electrolytes that contain B1(Thiamine) to food or water during the course of treatment.

 

[JGerz]

Right now the brooder is entirely empty with no bedding just for tonight, and only roofed with a sheet of plywood with all 4 sides open and wrapped with chicken wire. My goal is really promote more ventilation here.

I was covering them with a tarp at night to prevent from rain wetness and/or predators but then switched to plywood top cover.

Tomorrow I will be outside and let free range while I use a 10% Ammonia to clean out the brooder, and the give it about 3-4 hours before laying hay back in the brooder floor again.

As for the reflux up and out of the beak, it definitely appeared to be their medicated chick feed (has been removed since)... this made me this was potentially Sour Crop? The fermented food getting trapped and leading to causing the asphyxiation....

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Right now the brooder is entirely empty with no bedding just for tonight, and only roofed with a sheet of plywood with all 4 sides open and wrapped with chicken wire. My goal is really promote more ventilation here.

I was covering them with a tarp at night to prevent from rain wetness and/or predators but then switched to plywood top cover.

Tomorrow I will be outside and let free range while I use a 10% Ammonia to clean out the brooder, and the give it about 3-4 hours before laying hay back in the brooder floor again.

As for the reflux up and out of the beak, it definitely appeared to be their medicated chick feed (has been removed since)... this made me this was potentially Sour Crop? The fermented food getting trapped and leading to causing the asphyxiation....

So the crop contents came up.

Make sure they are drinking well and eating their normal chick feed. Provide Chick Grit (Crushed Granite) free choice.

Hopefully the Corid will help with the Coccidiosis. Usually chicks need to be exposed to the Coccidia that are found in their environment so they can build resistance. Sanitizing is not that helpful, Coccidia are found in the poop and in the soil. Keep the brooder dry and water stations clean. Scoop poop when needed.