Corid for Chickens: Dosage, Benefits and Risks
Every chicken farmer’s nightmare is poultry diseases. Most of these poultry diseases can be devastating and destructive because they lead to the massive loss of a large number of birds.
This loss happens often when the wave of a particular chicken disease is not contained at the right time.
A perfect example of such a disease is coccidiosis, which is a deadly parasitic disease caused by Cocci. Oftentimes this microscopic parasite (Cocci) attaches itself to the chicken’s gut, causing serious damage to the intestinal lining.
Consequently, the attached parasites prevent nutrient absorption leading to malnutrition and sudden death.
Baby chicks are more vulnerable to this parasite than adult chickens. However, good flock management practices can help control and even treat these diseases. That is why experts recommend you use Corid to contain coccidiosis.
But what is the right dosage of Corid that you should give to your chickens? Read on to learn more about Corid, its dosage, how it works, and how to administer it.
What is Corid and What is Used For?
Corid is a name used to describe a drug commonly referred to as Amprolium. At the moment, Amprolium is FDA-approved to treat coccidiosis in chickens. Often, this drug plays a significant role in containing cases of coccidiosis among backyard chickens.
If you notice your chicken showing symptoms of coccidiosis or is diagnosed with this poultry disease, make sure to treat your entire flock as soon as possible.
Symptoms of coccidiosis to look out for include:
- Lack of appetite
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Droopiness
- Mucus
- Bloody feces
- Pale combs and wattles
Once you notice the above-mentioned symptoms, take a quick response to save your backyard chickens. Corrid can come in handy to help treat and control coccidiosis symptoms.
A Corid solution containing the ingredient Amprolium is effective in the treatment and prevention of coccidiosis caused by E. zurnii and Eimeris bovis in chickens and other farm animals.
This pharmaceutical ingredient has undergone a series of improvements to treat and prevent coccidiosis in laying chickens. The ingredient itself is a Thiamin antagonist, which means its structure allows it to block out all Thiamin receptors.
How does Corid work on chickens? It is wise to have first-hand information regarding how Corid works after giving it to your sick chickens. In most cases, Corid imitates how Vitamin B1 or Thiamin works.
By doing so, Corid prevents the parasite from accessing the vital nutrients it needs to grow and increase in population.
Using Corid instead of Vitamin B1 starves the parasite, causing it to die. In other words, Corid causes a deficiency of essential nutrients needed by the parasite and this action causes starvation which ultimately leads to its demise.
No wonder experts suggest that you should provide your chickens with plenty of Vitamin A and Vitamin K during the treatment period to provide the necessary support.
Corid Dosage Recommendations for Chickens
Check out these acceptable Corid dosages as recommended by experts:
1.20% soluble Corid powder dosage for your chickens
This particular dosage is formulated for animal use including chickens.
The powder is carefully formulated to suit most domestic birds and farm animals. Therefore, you can use it as a curative or preventive drug for your backyard chickens.
For treatment purposes, you are encouraged to dissolve approximately 10mg of Corid powder per kilogram ( the weight measurement is for your chicken). In simple terms, work out the correct Corid powder dosage in relation to the weight of the affected chicken.
When it comes to prevention purposes, you are advised to use the appropriate preventive protocol. Usually, the preventive dosage is designed to last three weeks or 21 days.
As such, you should use 5mg of amprolium for every kilogram as part of your preventive protocol. Make sure to calculate the dosage depending on the actual weight of the chicken being treated for coccidiosis.
Corid liquid treatment
You may opt for the liquid treatment option if you feel the powder is not good for your flock of chickens.
Normally the Corid liquid comes with 9.6% of the amprolium ingredient. This formulation is safe for all domestic animals, chickens included. You can use it as a drench coccidiosis treatment option or administer it in drinking water for your chickens.
Its dosage requirements are as follows:
- For treatment reasons, you are expected to add approximately 16 ounces of solution to around 100 gallons of clean water to create a mixture. On the other hand, you can use about 3 ounces to prepare a Corid solution in about one pint of clean water. Once this mixture is ready, you can administer it to your sick chicken at a recommended rate of about 10 ounces for every 100 lb of your chicken weight.
- For preventive use, make sure to add at least 8 ounces of Corid to 100 gallons of fresh, clean water. Likewise, you can use a syringe to administer at least 1 ounce of drenching option per 100 lb of the affected chicken’s weight.
How to Administer Corid to Chickens?
The best way to treat your chicken using Corid is to understand its dosage. This is a significant step towards achieving positive results during and after treating your backyard chickens against coccidiosis. All you need to do is to learn different options designed for administering Corid.
In this case, you must have first-hand information about how to administer the right Corid dosage to your chickens.
The correct dosage ensures that your birds get better and well within a given time. Any mistake with the dosage can lead to serious health problems including death.
Precautions and Possible Side Effects of Corid
During the treatment of your chickens using Corid, you need to have certain precautions at the back of your mind. The first and most important precaution is to keep Corid and other drugs out of reach of your children.
You must also not use Corid to treat humans. Another important precaution is to protect your eyes at all times as oral Corid solution can cause eye irritation.
Just like other drugs, Corid comes with a number of side effects. Some of these side effects include:
- Delayed growth due to reversed Thiamine deficiency
- Delayed development of natural immunity against protozoa
- A sharp drop in the egg production
- Rarely reversible pancytopenia
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
Corid Alternatives for Chickens
There are several ways to treat coccidiosis in chickens in addition to using Corid powder or Corid liquid. These alternative treatment options come in various forms.
Some of these options include the use of apple cider vinegar. With this alternative treatment, you are advised to dissolve apple cider vinegar in water before allowing your chickens to drink the solution.
In the absence of apple cider vinegar, you can use a mixture of organic yogurt and garlic. This mixture helps boost the presence and functioning of good bacteria. Remember, good bacteria are responsible for boosting your chicken’s immunity.
So, their presence is paramount in controlling coccidiosis where Corid treatment is not available.
Some plant species have been found to provide an alternative treatment option for coccidiosis.
Most of these plant products are extracted from the following:
- Artemisia annua
- Artemisinin
- Oregano
- Garlic
- Neem
- Aloe vera
- Sugar cane
- Green tea
- Turmeric
A simple yet effective alternative for coccidiosis treatment is the application of preventive measures such as keeping the backyard environment dry and clean throughout. A clean environment prevents parasites from multiplying and getting to your chickens’ guts.
Conclusion
Corid is an effective drug formulated to contain, prevent and treat coccidiosis in backyard chickens. You can find it in liquid or powder form. Whichever form you choose, ensure to read the manufacturer’s instructions first before starting the treatment of your chickens.
Besides, you need the right diagnosis of the disease and the recommended dosage to save your birds from this fatal disease. After all, Corid works perfectly well and is religiously followed by hundreds of chicken owners across the globe.
But it is always advisable to consult a professional or a vet first before administering Corid to your chickens.
