If your strain is prone to cocci, do not use anything other than medicated starter. There's a reason why they make it. Coccidia affects many species of animals and you can lose a whole pen of chicks overnight to it. There are some breeds that have a strong tolerance to it but none are immune...
I agree. I have 10 12x12 pens and I'm always short on pen space. One main reason is hamburg hens will fight and kill each other when you switch pens around. The males are actually easier to switch around and keep together.
Spend some time and money on getting your pens fixed right.Makeshift pens and fencing is just an invitation to anything and everything that likes chicken.
I have an aisle down the center of my barns. I just leave the pen they are moving to open and let them have the whole length of the aisle plus the new pen for a day or two until everyone has a chance to meet. My rocks are fine just placing them in the pen together but the hamburg hens are a...
Cold weather does nothing to stunt the insect or parasite population. Insects go dormant over winter. They are still there. Alaska is sprawling with Mosquitos and all sorts of bugs come spring. Yet people still think winter temps affect them.