Please be aware that we are not veterinary surgeons so bear this in mind and seek help from a vet if you are at all worried. Our health pages are only meant as a rough guide.

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by a protozoa (Coccidia) and is spread through bird droppings. Like many parasites they thrive in warm damp conditions so it is important to keep brooder boxes clean and dry and chicks should not be overcrowded as these poor sanitary conditions are heaven for Coccidia. Young chicks are the usual victims mainly because by the time the birds are around three months of age they will have built up an immunity to the protozoa.

The best and easiest way of avoiding this common and often fatal disease is by using a coccidiostat in the chick food. Avatec is usually used in the UK and with a prescription from the vet can be added to the crumb or pellet. This medicine controls the parasite rather than killing it which helps the chick to develop an immunity to the coccidia.

Symptoms of Coccidiosis are: Diarrhoea, sometimes with blood present; the chicks infected may have dirty or wet vents; lethargy; little interest in food is another sign as well as dehydration. Also any bird not growing well or possibly looking pale could have the disease. Unfortunately these symptoms are rather general, with the exception of the blood which may not always be there, which is why we like to use a preventative medicine like Avatec. This way all the chicks are protected and coccidiosis can be discounted if we have problems with any of our chicks.