Dying chickens

[Little Fuzzy]

What is this VetRX?

 

[Little Fuzzy]

I learned so much from your posts. So sorry you went through this horrible experience, but you probably saved a lot of chicken lives. I'm leaving my run just plain dirt.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

Could compost piles with fruit skins and stuff cause the fungus to grow?

 

[TerryH]

What is this VetRX?

Link to VetRX on Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/Vet-Rx-Bird-2-oz/dp/B0002YFA04

 

[TerryH]

Could compost piles with fruit skins and stuff cause the fungus to grow?

All composting materials have some level of fungus. Generally there is no risk. Our case was the perfect storm causing dangerous levels of Aspergillus to form.

 

[TerryH]

I learned so much from your posts. So sorry you went through this horrible experience, but you probably saved a lot of chicken lives. I'm leaving my run just plain dirt.

Thanks. My hope and prayer is that all of this will benefit others in the long run.

 

[Beekissed]

I learned so much from your posts. So sorry you went through this horrible experience, but you probably saved a lot of chicken lives. I'm leaving my run just plain dirt.

That's what I was afraid that people would take away from this incident. It's unknown just how many chickens die per year from the unhealthy environment of a plain dirt run...that barren moonscape of over impacted earth that is devoid of healthy bacteria and fungus due to the inability to drain properly and the imbalance of nitrogen in the soils.

A healthy DL can renew those soils and help prevent the less beneficial bacteria and fungi from establishing in those soils, not to mention decrease the overgrowth of cocci in those same soils.

For this one incident of unfortunate conditions not typical to the ordinary DL, there are likely many thousands of flocks living a happy and healthy existence on well maintained DL in the coop and runs. One cannot take this one incident and say that bare dirt runs are healthier than cultured deep litter.

 

[TerryH]

That's what I was afraid that people would take away from this incident.  It's unknown just how many chickens die per year from the unhealthy environment of a plain dirt run...that barren moonscape of over impacted earth that is devoid of healthy bacteria and fungus due to the inability to drain properly and the imbalance of nitrogen in the soils. 

A healthy DL can renew those soils and help prevent the less beneficial bacteria and fungi from establishing in those soils, not to mention decrease the overgrowth of cocci in those same soils. 

For this one incident of unfortunate conditions not typical to the ordinary DL, there are likely many thousands of flocks living a happy and healthy existence on well maintained DL in the coop and runs.  One cannot take this one incident and say that bare dirt runs are healthier than cultured deep litter. 

And I agree. I've tried to state again and again that our situation was the perfect storm of bad circumstances. Poop and moisture have to be managed in a run. I don't promote bare dirt. That's why we started over with pine shavings.

 

[Beekissed]

I so appreciate that, Terry. It would be easy to just blame the method instead of the material in a case like this but you've kept a sound head on your shoulders throughout this bad time and I'm in admiration for that. It's a hard pill to swallow to have chickens dying and not being able to prevent it, but you've kept courage and a sound wisdom throughout it all and I applaud you!

 

[Birdydeb]

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