This post may contain affiliate links.
The top priority of every backyard chicken enthusiast should be keeping the flock healthy and happy. This, of course, includes getting yourself familiar with the most common threats to your chickens. One of the diseases most likely to spread among your flock is coccidiosis.
What is coccidiosis?
It attacks the chicken’s intestinal lining, causing (often bloody) diarrhoea. As a result, chickens dehydrate, suffer from malnutrition, and eventually die if the condition is not dealt with immediately.
Caused by a single-cell microscopic parasitic organism called Coccidia, this illness attacks chickens and other poultry and livestock. Multiple types of this parasite exist in the environment, each attacking a different animal species. Once it finds its way to your coop, coccidiosis can hit your flock hard as it spreads rapidly and is very deadly.
The good news is that it’s preventable and treatable, so educating yourself on the causes and symptoms can go a long way in keeping your flock safe. Below, you’ll find all the necessary information on recognizing and fighting this disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of Coccidiosis in chickens?
The key to keeping your chickens healthy is always keeping one eye open and tracking their behaviour. Recognizing the early signs of coccidiosis can make all the difference between saving and losing your flock.
Otherwise, you’ll notice the disease only when you start finding your chickens dead, which may be too late. Always have a proactive approach and be on the lookout for the following signs and symptoms that may point to coccidiosis:
- Lethargy and depression are usually the first signs of coccidiosis. The birds seem listless, sad, and a bit off.
- Loss of appetite, although often generic, may also point to disease development. The chicken will significantly decrease its feed and water consumption. Rapid weight loss usually follows the loss of appetite.
- The chickens may huddle together more than usual and have fluffed and ruffled feathers and dropped wings.
- Pale comb and skin
- Changes in the stool. At first, the bird may have a foamy stool that soon turns to severe diarrhea. Blood in the chicken droppings is probably the most indicative of coccidiosis. The blood will start to appear on the fourth day after the infection, with the most significant amounts on the fifth and sixth days.
Can chickens recover from Coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis is treatable, but only if caught early. If they receive proper treatment on time, chickens can successfully recover with no lasting consequences of the disease. Once you start the treatment, it usually lasts for about 7 days, with the first improvements visible after one day.
The chicken will probably fully recover after up to a month.
The recovery process also depends on the bird’s age. Older chickens may have already developed natural immunity, and even if they catch coccidiosis, they will get better faster.
Another factor is whether the chicken has other illnesses besides coccidiosis. An infected chicken is also more susceptible to other diseases. If a chicken with coccidiosis falls ill with another disease, it may significantly prolong recovery.
Sometimes, the chicken can recover without treatment if the infection is not too severe. This is mostly the case with older chickens with developed immunity.
What is the Best Treatment for Coccidiosis in Chickens?
The treatment of coccidiosis-infected chicken depends on the disease’s severity, the infected birds’ age, and their condition. Luckily, you can get most of the drugs for the coccidiosis treatment over the counter.
Before starting any treatment, separate infected birds from the rest of the flock.
Most vets recommend the drug Corid for treating coccidiosis. It contains amprolium, an active ingredient that can deal with the infection efficiently and quickly. Corid is available in powder and liquid form, both of which are added to drinking water.
Before applying Corid, remove all current drinking water from the coop and thoroughly wash the waterer, inside and out. Once they are clean, you can refill them with fresh water and add the recommended dosage of Corid. The medicated water should be the only water chickens drink for 5 days.
Alternatively, you can use another coccidiostat, Toltrazuril.
When you finish the Corid or Toltrazuril treatment, make sure to help the chickens replenish vitamins in their body. The treatment reduces the birds’ ability to absorb vitamin B, so you should use one of the available vitamin supplements.
Some chicken owners use natural remedies to treat coccidiosis. Although they’re helpful, they’re not nearly as efficient as the drugs I mentioned above. The most common natural remedies are vinegar, yoghurt, and garlic. Although they likely won’t help you eliminate coccidiosis in your chickens, they can help improve immunity and prevent further disease.
In any case, the best course of action, when a coccidiosis infection occurs in your coop, is to consult a vet for advice on treatment.
Can antibiotics cure Coccidiosis?
The coccidia that cause coccidiosis are not bacteria, and antibiotics are not a part of the primary treatment. However, ac coccidiosis damages the chickens’ intestinal wall, leaving them with decreased immunity and prone to developing secondary infections.
Many vets recommend adding antibiotics, such as tylosin or amoxicillin, to the treatment to control secondary bacterial development. Along with antibiotics, a probiotic supplement to support the growth of beneficial bacteria is also a good idea.
How do you clean the coop after Coccidiosis?
Using recommended drugs will help eradicate coccidiosis. Still, to prevent reinfection and another disease outbreak, you’ll need to thoroughly clean the chickens’ living space and remove all the waste and litter from the coop.
Furthermore, remove all bedding from nesting boxes and the coop floor. If possible, burn them to prevent other chickens and wild birds from accessing them. As for the diseased members of the flock, it’s best to incinerate them, as the disease is parasitic.
Once you’ve removed waste and bedding, sanitize the entire space, including nesting boxes and roosting bars. You can use an ammonia and water solution or a store-bought strong disinfectant. Immediately after coccidiosis, try to keep the coop as dry as possible and rake it regularly.
Pro and cons: Backyard chicken’s coccidiosis vaccine
One of the most efficient ways of coccidiosis prevention is vaccination. Most types of vaccines are applied to the young chick within the first week or even the first day of their life. Baby chicks are usually very susceptible to coccidiosis as they still haven’t fully developed an immune system.
Vaccination doesn’t provide 100% protection from coccidiosis but is a valuable tool of prevention. Common ways to administer vaccines are through drinking water, spraying to the feed, or eye drops.
Pros of Coccidiosis Vaccine:
- The immunity is more lasting than when naturally developed
- Similar performance to anticoccidial drugs
- No risk of antibiotic resistance
Cons of Coccidiosis Vaccine:
- It may be effective only against the most common strains, not all of them
- Vaccine and medicated feed cancel each other
- As vaccines are normally produced in large quantities, they may be too expensive and difficult to get for backyard flock owners
Can you eat eggs if chickens have Coccidiosis?
As with other diseases, many worry if it’s safe to eat eggs from a chicken ill with coccidiosis. The fact is that most chickens have a bit of residual infection at all times. More than likely, you’ve already eaten eggs from the coccidiosis-infected chicken.
When the illness is more severe, the infected chicken will, in most cases, stop laying eggs. Those who continue to produce them will lay perfectly healthy eggs, as coccidia can’t get into eggs.
So, eggs from chickens that have coccidiosis are safe.
However, this may not be the case if the chicken is treated for coccidiosis. Egg safety will mostly depend on the medications that these chickens receive. Some drugs have a significant withdrawal period, and the eggs may be unsafe for human consumption for some time.
Always check the label of the medication the chicken is currently using. The most common coccidiosis drug, Corid, has 0 days withdrawal period and you can get eat those eggs immediately.
Other Ideas You Might Like
- 14 Best Chicken Breeds That Consistently Lay Great Eggs
- How to Raise Meat Chickens
- How to Choose a Heritage Chicken Breed for the Homestead
Is chicken Coccidiosis contagious to humans?
As I already mentioned, multiple types of parasites causing coccidiosis, and each is species-specific. So, chicken coccidiosis can’t be transmitted to humans. Still, you can transmit the disease and be responsible for the coccidiosis outbreak in your coop. The parasites attach to your boots, clothes, and hands—one more reason to isolate the infected birds from the rest of the flock.
While coccidiosis is not contagious to humans, other chicken diseases are. Make sure always to keep good hygiene and wash and sanitize your hands after every visit to the coop. Also, having a designated pair of shoes for dealing with your flock is a good idea.
Like It? Pin It?
