The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Stereo on November 02, 2014, 06:02:06 pm

Title: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: Stereo on November 02, 2014, 06:02:06 pm

Just had a sudden outbreak in my growers field, I think from jackdaws as I've seen a lot lately. Got meds and seperated out the pullets today so they are all being treated. I've got 11 cockerels that are 24 weeks this week and some are showing early signs so I need to process them pronto. Was wondering if they will still be OK to eat? I know I can't eat them once they have had medication so it's now or never. Bit gutting having raised them for 6 months and then find I can't eat them.

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: HesterF on November 02, 2014, 11:12:17 pm

Interesting question - I was wondering a similar thing about blackhead in turkeys the other day (haven't got it, touch wood, was just wondering what if.....same thing, getting this close and then losing the prize!). Could you ask your vet? I guess it depends on whether coccidiosis can be passed onto humans.

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: devonlady on November 03, 2014, 08:00:26 am

Check first!! But wouldn't cooking kill the cocc. bugs? It kills salmonella.

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: Stereo on November 03, 2014, 08:41:26 am

I would have thought cooking would kill most things and I'm not even sure it would be harmful anyway. I know it's a different form to the sheep / cattle version and those animals can't catch it from poultry. Might have to call the vet but they will probably advise not anyway.

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: Victorian Farmer on November 06, 2014, 02:22:33 pm

In the old days as soon as there was a problem dad would have them done .We had problems whith terkis and done the same

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: Stereo on November 06, 2014, 02:25:53 pm

Yeah, I'm thinking of doing the lot and just taking the breast meat off to save plucking / drawing etc.

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: chrismahon on November 07, 2014, 05:49:29 am

Coccidiosis is in the intestines Stereo. It destroys the lining so the birds starve and die. When they are dressed all the guts are removed so I don't see why you can't eat the carcass.

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: Stereo on November 07, 2014, 09:00:36 am

Thanks, don't want to waste them.

Title: Re: Eating chickens with coccidiosis
Post by: Clansman on November 07, 2014, 09:40:34 am

Yep fine to eat once the withdrawal period for the medication is passed.

Quite common for it to surface in commercial broilers occasionally which are treated then sent off for processing as normal.

I believe in terms of actual financial cost in commercial poultry farming, coccidiosis is still the number one problem.