Coccidiosis. It’s a strange sounding word, but it’s a word that will issue fear into the heart of even the most experienced farmer or rancher. Coccidiosis moves quickly within all species and unfortunately, is deadly.
This microscopic parasite multiplies too rapidly for the animal to handle, damaging the tissues and causing bleeding, preventing the animal from absorbing the nutrients in their food. The loss of nutrients, fluids and blood causes them to weaken and die.
Symptoms are similar with most species but there are differences in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Depending on how early diagnosis occurs and with aggressive treatment, coccidiosis is curable.
How it spreads
In a chick brooder, what often happens, is an infected chick contaminates the water container with feces which spreads it to the rest of it's brooder mates. Or, as most animals do, they defecate on the bedding, which can get kicked into the water trough or feed trough, or it winds up straight in the feed trough.
Either way, because of the bacteria involved, in no time at all you can go from one sick chick, to all chicks being infected. Which is why you have to treat the entire brooder and not just the sick chick.
Symptoms
An affected chick will become listless and often stand in a hunched position, looking as if it’s cold and can usually be found off by itself, or huddled together with others that are affected.
An affected chick generally has poor growth compared to its brooder mates (depending on the breed), will have a pale comb and eyelids, and a decreased appetite.
A tell tale sign of coccidia is the presence of blood in the stool. This can be watery or foamy.
Treatment
Treatment begins with removing the affected animals from the rest of the flock and quarantining them to an infirmary area to prevent any cross contamination from droppings or supplies.
Medication
Treatment involves medication for five consecutive days. There are two types of medication, corid (amprolium) and sulmet (sodium sulfamethazine). Both come in water soluble packets, the Corid, comes in a liquid form as well.
*NOTE* Medicated starter/grower feed contains decoquinate to aid in the prevention of coccidia. This is not enough to use as treatment if infection occurs. Coccidiostat and antibiotic MUST be used to treat successfully.
DOSAGE
To treat for coccidia using Corid LIQUID amprolium, add;
- 1 tablespoon Corid to 5 gallons of fresh water.
- This converts to approximately 9.5ml per 1 US gallon or 2.5ml per quart.
Again, treatment must be carried out for 5 consecutive days. During those days, water containers and feeders must be disinfected, bedding kept dry, and severely affected animals should be quarantined.
Coccidia is a scary thing to deal with, but, if you are vigilant with treatment and follow these tips, recovery is possible.