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Coccidiosis in Backyard Chickens

Filed Under:
Publication Number: P3140
View as PDF: P3140.pdf

Understanding the basics of common poultry diseases is critical for backyard poultry keepers across Mississippi because it gives small flock owners the ability and knowledge to treat and, hopefully, prevent future disease outbreaks. Intestinal coccidiosis is a common protozoal gastrointestinal (GI) disease that primarily affects young chickens. Clinical signs of the disease include bloody diarrhea, dehydration, anemia, listlessness, ruffled feathers, poor growth, and possibly death. In addition, coccidiosis in laying hens often results in a drop in egg production. There are hundreds of types of organisms in the class coccidia, but only nine affect chickens. In contrast, seven different species can infect turkeys. Coccidiosis is one of the most devastating of all poultry diseases. 

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Department: Poultry Science
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