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By MrAnimal Farm 2 Comments

Coccidiosis in Chickens & Goats

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Coccidiosis in chickens and goats, if left untreated can be very dangerous.

Coccidia in Chickens & Goats - A Health Challenge for Both

What is Coccidiosis in Chickens and Goats?

Coccidiosis, otherwise known as cocci or coccidia, is an internal parasite that can affect all species.  Coccidia can be found in the dirt, fecal matter, pretty much anywhere outside that your animals will definitely be touching.

You would think that with how widespread coccidia can be that it would be a  simple thing right?  Wrong!  Coccidia, although by definition (it is a single cell protoza) is a simple organism how it affects animals is not simple at all.

First, there are a multitude of types of Coccidia.  To make things more difficult, Coccidia are species specific.  This means that the 10 (yes, 10!)  types of Coccidia that affect goats will not affect chickens.

And, also, that the 9 types of Coccidia that affect chickens will not affect goats or any other species.

Of course, each of these different types of Coccidia will have different levels and slightly different types of infection in their host species.  For more details on Coccidia’s life cycle, check out this article.

Whew! So, you are probably thinking Coccidia in chickens and goats may be a hard thing to manage, identify and treat, right?  Not necessarily true (thanks goodness!)

goat with chicken sitting on her back

How to Identify Coccidia in Chickens and Goats:

Coccidia can be present and affecting your chickens and/or goats without you noticing.  A low grade infection or overload of Coccidia can cause decreased appetite and decreased production (milk for goats, eggs for chickens).  Additionally, a low grade overload may also just cause your goats or chickens to act a little “off”.

The really dangerous load of Coccidia is when you start to see obvious signs.  In goats, you will see lethargy, anemia, dehydration and diarrhea (in addition to the low grade signs).

In chickens, you can see all the same signs as you see with goats.  A tell-tale sign of Coccidia in chickens is bloody diarrhea.

In order to positively identify Coccidia in chickens and goats, you can collect a fecal and have your vet run a test on the fecal sample.

As you may expect given that coccidia is present in dirt, all animals will usually have some level of coccidia in their systems.  If you run a fecal on an adult goat you may find a few coccidia and this is considered normal and not cause for concern.

It is when the fecal is covered in coccidia and/or your animal is also showing the signs and symptoms mentioned above that you need to be concerned and start treatment.

Due to the fact that all animals will usually have some level of coccidia normally, it is important to watch them during times of extra stress as this can be a time when the coccidia will take over and become an issue.

For example, when goats kid or when chickens get integrated into a new flock the animals are under more stress than usual and therefore may experience a coccidia bloom.

How Is Coccidiosis Transmitted?

As we mentioned, coccidia is a naturally occurring bacteria that just about every living thing carries. The problem is when it starts to accelerate it’s growth and overload it’s host.

Since your livestock already carries it, that also means they shed it when they create and expel waste (poop, we’re talking about poop). When their area is not kept clean, or if the moisture/humidity/temperature/weather conditions are just right, the bacteria will start to grow on the ground.

Then when your goats or chickens are eating feed, hay, pellets, grass, anything that’s on or low to the dirt, they reingest the coccidia, thus reinfecting themselves. This cycle can continue until the animal is either successfully treated or they, sadly, get sick and die.

How to Treat Coccidia in Chickens and Goats:

**Please note, this is how WE treat our animals based on experience and advice from our vet.  It should NOT substitute for actual veterinary advice if you have a sick animal**

Coccidiosis Treatment in Chickens:

We treat them with Corid in their water.  We simply follow the instructions on the bottle.

bottle of corid

Corid (as well as being sick) can zap B vitamins from your chickens, so after (NOT during) the dose of Corid we like to give them a vitamin and electrolyte supplement.

chicken vitamins and electrolytes

If they are really sick, it is also a good idea to separate them (leaving them with at least one buddy to decrease stress if possible).  Very weak birds may need some help eating and drinking – we have syringed water sometimes to get them going.

french black copper Marans

Coccidiosis Treatment inGoats

We use Albon (which we purchase from our vet).  It is a simple oral medication that they get for a few days.  Di-methox is another medication used to treat Coccidia in goats.

In addition to the Albon (or other medication recommended by your vet), we make sure that the goat is getting separated to eat on their own (so they don’t have to fight for food).  We also give Probios to keep their tummy healthy.

For goat kids, you can also put them on a coccidia preventative.  Find out more about goat kid care and goat breeding in the Goat Breeding Planner.

We use Albon (which we purchase from our vet).  It is a simple oral medication that they get for a few days.  Di-methox is another medication used to treat Coccidia in goats.

goat kid

How To Prevent Coccidiosis:

Cocci is one of those things that is naturally occurring. You may not be able to completely prevent it from living in and around your homestead, but you can put some preventative measures in place to help keep it at bay.

Making sure their area stays dry is crucial to keeping coccidia from overgrowing. You will also want to make sure to keep their water fresh and clean on a regular basis. Additionally, moving the location from time to time to allow the area to dry out and reduce/kill the bacteria growth is also helpful.

Have you experienced Coccidia in your chickens or goats?  How did you treat them?

For more on goats, check these out:

80+ Goat Names And How To Pick One
How To Take Care of Baby Goats
Raising Goats: All You Need to Know
Can You Make Money Raising Goats
Can You Make Money Raising Goats?
Goat Kidding Supplies – The Kidding Kit to Make Kidding Season Smooth
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Goat Pen Ideas
Wether Goats: The Ultimate Guide
how to milk a goat
Goat Milking – 5 Steps for How to Hand Milk a Goat (or Cow)
Goat gestation
Goat Gestation – How Long are Goats Pregnant?
How to Choose Your First (couple) Nigerian Dwarf Goats
How To Buy A Goat: The Ultimate Buyers Guide
Coccidia in Chickens & Goats - A Health Challenge for Both
Coccidiosis in Chickens & Goats
Bose For Goats
5 Signs Your Goat is Ready to Kid
Goat Labor Signs: 15+ Signs Your Goat May Be Ready to Kid
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
The Ultimate Guide To Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Hoof Trimming – How to Trim Your Goats Hooves
Goat breeds
Goat Breeds – 3 Types of Goats (Dairy, Fiber, Meat)
How To Care For Goats In Winter
How To Care For Goats In Winter
Dairy Goat Breeds
Dairy Goat Breeds – 9 Best Goat Breeds for Milk Production
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Gifts For Goat Lovers
Best Goat Dewormer
How Much Does a Goat Cost?
What do goats eat
What Do Goats Eat? The Ultimate Guide To Feeding Your Goats
pasteurize milk
How to Pasteurize Milk (Goat or Cow)
goat supplies
Goat Supplies – How to Prepare for Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Goat Fencing
Goat Fencing – Tips and Tricks for Fencing for Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Kidding Season Preparation - 4 essential steps for kidding season
Kidding Preparation – 4 Essential Steps for Kidding Season
Goat Heat Signs – 6 Signs to Tell Your Goat is in Heat
Goat Heat Signs – 6 Signs to Tell Your Goat is in Heat
Goat Breeding Planning - Using ADGA to Make the Right Matches
Goat Breeding Planning – Using ADGA to Make the Right Matches
Do I Have a Pregnant Goat? How to Tell if a Goat is Pregnant.
Proper Goat Fencing
Proper Goat Fencing – Time & Money Saving Tips!
Cost to Feed Goats
Cost to Feed Goats – How Much Does a Goat Cost?
Milking Goats – Causes of Decreased Milk Production in Goats
Milking Goats – Causes of Decreased Milk Production in Goats
Reading Goat Pedigrees – How to Understand Your Goat’s Pedigree
Choosing Hay – Tips to Choose High Quality Hay Instagram
Choosing Hay – Tips to Choose High Quality Hay
Chaffhaye benefits
Chaffhaye Benefits – Hay Replacement or Supplement for Goats
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5 Goat Medical Supplies – Always Keep These on Hand!
Goat Toys
Goat Toys – DIY & Cheap Toys for Goats to Keep Your Herd Busy
Quarantine New Animals
How and Why to Quarantine New Animals
Goat Terminology
Goat Terminology – Key Goat Terms You Need to Know
Supplies for Milking a goat or cow
5 Essential Supplies for Milking a Goat (or Cow)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deborah Kunic says

    November 04, 2018 at 5:55 am

    We treat our goats with Corid. There is a Corid Calculator online which makes accurate dosing very easy.

    Reply
  2. Christine says

    November 15, 2018 at 12:07 am

    Well I don’t have goats but I do have sheep and we get a case or two of coccidiossis every year because it is in the soil. As soon as I see signs of it, I have a fecal count done by the vet and then I dose everyone with Amprol in the water for five days. Clears it up nicely. Sometimes I can catch it before it spreads around and then I can dose just the one sheep with the same medication via a drench.

    Reply

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