Day 19 focuses on gut physiology and dropping diagnostics. Week 3 is the peak risk window for coccidiosis (Eimeria) and dysbacteriosis as feed throughput peaks. Conduct structured flock walk-throughs to evaluate droppings, intestinal integrity, and digestion.
•Confusing normal daily cecal evacuations with pathological diarrhea and administering unnecessary treatments.
•Ignoring orange mucus in droppings until severe bloody diarrhea and high mortality appear.
•Failing to check for drinker leaks before assuming wet litter is caused by flock enteric disease.
•Perform gut scoring during daily necropsy: check upper intestine (E. acervulina), mid-gut (E. maxima), and ceca (E. tenella); score lesions from 0 to 4.
•Veterinary Escalation: Escalate immediately to certified poultry veterinarian if necropsy reveals ballooned ceca filled with bloody cores, necrotic intestinal sloughing, or if daily flock mortality exceeds 0.1%.
•Walk the shed slowly in a zig-zag pattern early in the morning to observe the first bowel movements of the day.
•Distinguish between cecal droppings (pasty, brown/mustard colored, passed 1-2 times daily) and watery diarrhea (puddle with floating unformed feces).
Normal cecal evacuations occur 1–2 times a day and are homogeneous, dark caramel to chocolate brown, and pasty. Coccidiosis droppings are watery, contain mucus, orange mucosal shreds, or bright red blood, and are accompanied by hunched, ruffled birds.
The squeeze test gives an immediate physical gauge of litter moisture. If litter balls up and stays sticky or leaves moisture on your palm, moisture exceeds 35%, creating an ideal breeding ground for coccidial oocysts and footpad dermatitis.
