Coccidia/Coccidiosis: What is it?

Coccidia/Coccidiosis: What is it? Let’s get scientific first then we’ll put it in OUR terms.

Coccidia are a subclass of microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled obligate intracellular parasites belonging to the apicomplexan class Conoidasida. As obligate intracellular parasites, they must live and reproduce within an animal cell. 
(source Wikipedia)

Coccidia belong to the phylum Apicomplexa and are protozoan parasites of mammals, birds and reptiles. Coccidia have three major stages to their life cycle: Sporogony, Schizogony, Gametogony. (source: wikipedia)

Who/what can get coccidiosis?

In short. Everyone and everything but poultry is the most common.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of coccidiosis include weight loss, paleness, ruffled feathers, depression, huddling, unwillingness to eat, and watery or bloody diarrhea.

Can chickens/poultry recover?

YES! In most cases it can be treated if caught early enough. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to treat every bird in your flock to contain an outbreak. Amprolium is the most popular treatment for coccidiosis, it blocks the parasite’s ability to uptake and multiply.

Prevention

Use Medicated Starter Feed for Chicks. Unvaccinated chicks should be fed medicated starter feed that exposes them to low levels of at least one strain of coccidiosis.

Medicated Chick Starter Feed

Here is where people differ because a lot of folks like to use “natural/organic” ways. Believe me I’d love to be one of those folks BUT I am not going to mess around with anything so deadly as coccidiosis. I have my family and pets to protect as well as my chicken and guinea flocks. So YES I do, have and will continue to feed my poultry including my Pearl Guineas MEDICATED starter feed.

More ways to protect

Keep brooders and coops clean and dry. Provide adequate spacing in brooders, coops and runs. Remove soiled bedding.

Do research

In short do your own research. Protect your flock and give them a healthy environment. They will provide you with entertainment, eggs and meat (if you so choose).

I hope you enjoyed this info short blog. If you found this informative please subscribe to my blog and to vlog on YouTube “Tillettville Beauty and Homestead” Thank you and have a blessed day. Enjoy your flocking day.