Coccidiosis is such a common and serious problem for flock keepers everywhere. Microscopiccoccidia parasites are the archenemies of poultry farmers, who must spend tremendous amounts of effort and money to keep coccidiosis at bay. The parasites can multiply to overwhelming numbers in the digestive tracts of chickens, usually young ones, causing bloody or watery diarrhea, poor growth, and death.
Every chicken carries a few coccidia around. You can see what the eggs, or oocysts, look like at the microscopic level in a sample of the droppings.
What makes the difference between healthy chickens with a few coccidia and a flock that’s really sick with coccidiosis?
Chicks that survive longer than a week are on the road to recovery.
Treatment of coccidiosis Amprolium or sulfa drugs effectively treat coccidiosis outbreaks. The parasites can develop resistance to these drugs, but so far, resistance isn’t a common problem in backyard flocks. Organic poultry farmers have a tough time controlling coccidiosis, but they have used vinegar in the drinking water.
Treatment is Generally (Liquid) Corid or Sulmet 1 cc Per quart of water daily can also be used in conjunction with Duramycin 10 (Tetracycline Antibiotics) to prevent secondary infections.
Every chicken carries a few coccidia around. You can see what the eggs, or oocysts, look like at the microscopic level in a sample of the droppings.
What makes the difference between healthy chickens with a few coccidia and a flock that’s really sick with coccidiosis?
- The number of oocysts eaten: Chickens raised in crowded or unsanitary conditions are exposed to heavy doses of oocysts every day.
- The strain of coccidia: Some strains are more vicious than others and burrow deeper into the gut.
- The environment: Coccidia like warm, wet conditions. Freezing weather and drought conditions kill oocysts.
- The chicken’s age and health status: Chickens develop immunity to coccidia as they grow older. Young chickens between 3 to 5 weeks of age are most susceptible. Chickens that are run down by other diseases or poor nutrition are also more susceptible to coccidiosis.
- Use a medicated starter feed for chicks until they’re 4 months old. The anticoccidial medication in the feed doesn’t kill all the oocysts, but it keeps them down to a dull roar while chicks develop immunity.
- Have your day-old chicks vaccinated with a coccidiosis vaccine. Some hatcheries offer this service, or you may be able to purchase the vaccine and do it yourself. The vaccine is actually a live, mild strain of coccidia that stimulates chicks’ immunity to natural infection with more aggressive versions of coccidia. After vaccinating chicks, don’t feed medicated feed; doing so defeats the purpose of the vaccine.
- Keep pens clean and dry, and avoid overcrowding. Keep poop out of feeders and waterers. Coccidia love wet conditions, especially sloppy areas around waterers. Remove wet bedding frequently and replace with dry stuff.
- Raise chicks on wire-floored brooders. If the Chicks have Coccidiosis the environment has become heavily contaminated with oocysts. Raising them on wire is best,but nothing replaces vigilant cleaning.
- Treat birds with signs of coccidiosis immediately. Amprolium or sulfa drugs beat back coccidiosis.
Chicks that survive longer than a week are on the road to recovery.
Treatment of coccidiosis Amprolium or sulfa drugs effectively treat coccidiosis outbreaks. The parasites can develop resistance to these drugs, but so far, resistance isn’t a common problem in backyard flocks. Organic poultry farmers have a tough time controlling coccidiosis, but they have used vinegar in the drinking water.
Treatment is Generally (Liquid) Corid or Sulmet 1 cc Per quart of water daily can also be used in conjunction with Duramycin 10 (Tetracycline Antibiotics) to prevent secondary infections.