Heritage Large Fowl Thread - Page 452

Non-medicated crumble. It does have about the same amount of calcium as most layer feed but I offer Oyster Shell free choice as well.

To deal with the threat of Coccidiosis I add Corid, half strength, for a week when the birds go from the brooder to the floor. Seems to work as I haven't lost a chick to Cocci in years.

On the 22% protein feed I use my fertility & hatchability are both improved over what they were on conventional 16% layer feed.

I think the 28% protein first proposed here is probably too high for birds you intend to keep for breeding purposes.

The thing with most coccidostats is that they only work if the birds/chicks come in contact with infected fowl and or soil.

 

Coccidiosis is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with droppings of infected birds. When a bird ingests coccidia, the organisms invade the lining of the intestine and produce tissue damage as they undergo reproduction. Within a week after infection, the coccidia shed immature descendants that are referred to as oocysts. The oocysts shed in the droppings are not capable of infecting another bird unless they pass through a maturation process (sporulation) in the litter. This sporulation occurs within a one to three day period if the litter is warm and damp but can take much longer if the conditions are cool and dry. After sporulation the coccidia are infective if consumed by a new host bird.

When I treat chick for Coccidiosis I either add a mixture of ground soil and sand at the rate of 50:50 to there brooder or I will treat them when they are on the ground either way they get Corid in the water.

 

Chris

 

 

He was in decline when I sent him to you Bob. You should have seen him in June. I showed him a total of 5 times & he was on Champion Row every time. One of the best I ever raised.

I had looked into feeding FRM Feeds, since they have such a variety and really seem to have a good product.  I read a tag and saw the ingredient ethoxyquin in all their feeds, and decided I just couldnt feed it.  I wish they wouldnt add that, as I would love to feed it.

Halo, there are a lot of rumors about ethoxyquin.  Look it up on Wikipedia and read what that says.  The FDA has never been able to substantiate the rumors.  I have been feeding my chickens FRM for a long time and have had no adverse affects.

I realize you have seen no adverse effects, but Im not comfortable with what the long term effects can be, especially since I do eat my chickens.  I try and stay as preservative free as is humanly possible.  Cant escape them all, but when a homemade loaf of bread last about 2 days before turning green, and a store loaf last nearly a week, it does concern me.

 

Wikipedia can be written and edited by anyone, so I dont always take its word as gospel.

 

http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/0003fact.pdf

 

Sorry, didnt mean to hijack.

Edited by halo - 2/23/12 at 4:13pm

Halo, I certainly am no Scientist so I am probably speaking out of turn but I could pm you the phone number to FRM's CEO/Head Nutritionist if you would be interested if in talking to him about it. He is a very nice man and willing to talk to anyone about their feed.