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Coccidiosis: The Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Coccidiosis: The Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Chickens may not get the typical head cold like we do, but they are subject to some illnesses that are really tough on their immune systems and can even lead to death. One such illness, called coccidiosis, is very common among young chickens, but can be treated effectively if caught early.
 
 

Coccidiosis is contracted when a chicken eats coccidia, which are microscopic parasites that can be found in the ground or in bird feces.

Coccidia are a part of most chickens’ natural condition. The parasites attach themselves to the lining of the chicken’s stomach and gut, and are passed through the chicken’s feces a few days before symptoms occur, so the disease is very contagious. General coccidiosis is not an issue unless it gets out of balance and is not kept in check by the chicken’s immune system. It can be fatal, but older chickens that have had the disease before will be immune to it. Young chickens and chickens that have poor diets or live in dirty or wet conditions are most susceptible to the disease.
 
Signs and symptoms of this disease include pale comb and skin, blood in the feces, yellow or foamy feces, a general look of un-wellness and unkemptness, weakness and listlessness, and lack of thirst or appetite.
 
If you suspect that one of your chickens might be infected with this disease, the first thing you should do is quarantine them to prevent other chickens from getting sick. Then, you can use a liquid solution of Corid to treat the sick chicken and the whole flock. Use 9.5 ml of Corid per 1 gallon of water, and substitute this for your chicken’s normal drinking water for 7 days, mixing a fresh batch of water each day. You can follow up this treatment with vitamin supplements and probiotics to help build back some of the good bacteria in the gut. Sulfa type treatments work well in the water as a good way to attack a full blown coccidiosis issue. Amprol type treatments work better as preventative measures before an issue has happened.
 
The best treatment is prevention: make sure your coops are cleaned regularly, and that your chickens watering area is not damp. If you can change your waterer to a different spot every 2 days to keep dampness build up. If you spot a chicken that looks like it might be sick, remove her from the rest of the flock immediately to prevent the spread of disease.
 
From the Cackle Coop.
 
Coccidiosis

11 thoughts on “Coccidiosis: The Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

  1. How is your HEN……autocorrect

  2. My hen stopped laying before we discovered she might have coccidiosis and during the corid treatment. She’s been looking healthy and happy again but she still hasn’t laid an egg. It’s been at least 3 weeks since it all started and since she hasn’t laid.

    1. How is your been? Did she ever start laying?

  3. Can it cause severe twitching off and on? I noticed that my pheasant had the lameness, etc. But when I caught her she tried getting away and she could not walk straight she also would just sit there in a corner. Also, I noticed that she did not look that well 2 weeks ago. I brought her home yesterday and she died today in what looked like a very uncomfortable position like she was in pain.

    1. If you give us a call at 417-532-4581, one of our reps could find out some more information and help you find the answers you want.

  4. this is cool thanks needed it for school

  5. no, eggs are fine to eat during treatment.

  6. should you discard the eggs while treating hens??

  7. If they have this, what food can you give them that is soft and easy to digest to entice eating?

    1. they need to be on amprol or corid … to help control the condition, so they will eat.

  8. What do u do to treat the affected chicken after removal?

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