ALABAMA!!

[roostercantrell]

I have never had to trim a beak but I'm sure it will heal.


It's really to each their own. I bought a 40 or 50lbs starter. I do not have a lot of chicks and I believe they will be over 6 month old before they finished the bag. So at that time I will swap to Layers.

By the way, how many chicks do you have? I don't have enough chicks to buy more than 1 bag at a time. Even the 1 bag I buy, I put 1/2 of them in ziplock bags and store them in the freezer. If you do not have a lot of chicks I would just buy one bag at a time and see what you need later on as your chicks grow. Save storage space and possibility of food going bad.

i only have 5 chicks

 

[Tomtommom]

LOL! Tom! To each his own, just do what works for you....... I don't know the difference in the starter and the starter/grower. I bet it's not much.

Heck, mine are on Layena

there's more calcium in grass than in Layena.. protein is a bit lower though, but they get BOSS and bugs. They got grower until the bag was empty.

You can get the cocci med stuff separate, if you want it.. seems more effective in my opinion and you can make any food into medicated food. But, that's likely more feasible for more seasoned keepers. I know first time around everything seems like a life or death decision and it gets overwhelming.

 

[Orps]

Heck, mine are on Layena

there's more calcium in grass than in Layena.. protein is a bit lower though, but they get BOSS and bugs. They got grower until the bag was empty.

You can get the cocci med stuff separate, if you want it.. seems more effective in my opinion and you can make any food into medicated food. But, that's likely more feasible for more seasoned keepers. I know first time around everything seems like a life or death decision and it gets overwhelming.

I'm the same way. I can get cocci stuff too if there is a breakout. But for people that have tons of chicken it's more logical to prevent it from happening because if their chicken gets it, it spreads like wildfire and becomes a epidemic in no time.

 

[Orps]

i only have 5 chicks

With only 5 chicks, if you get a 50lb starter bag I think it will last you a very long time. No need to get a 2nd bag until you are ready for it. Or are you thinking about the 6 or 10lbs bags? They work nicely as well but more expensive than getting the 50lb bag. That's why I bought the 50lb and stuck 1/2 in the freezer(they can be stored in a dry place for a long time too).

 

[roostercantrell]

With only 5 chicks, if you get a 50lb starter bag I think it will last you a very long time. No need to get a 2nd bag until you are ready for it. Or are you thinking about the 6 or 10lbs bags? They work nicely as well but more expensive than getting the 50lb bag. That's why I bought the 50lb and stuck 1/2 in the freezer(they can be stored in a dry place for a long time too).

i was thinking the 10lb bag i dont want to waste any

 

[Tomtommom]

The flock. They're like a stampede these days.... Good to know I can't handle 18 birds, puts a limit on the math

If the water/food is empty, they run me over when I open their pen. They're voracious!

 

[Wisher1000]

I have only had to deal with cocci twice. Both times were when I was not feeding medicated feed, it had been unusually rainy, and the chicks went outside without having been "inoculated" with clumps of grass and roots in the brooder prior to moving outside. Once was when I had some ducks in with them and didn't want the ducks to get too much medicated feed, the other was this week! I moved them out to a small pen inside the coop (wasn't thinking) and gave them some gamebird starter because it was handy.
I lost three in 48 hours. I went to TSC and got a pack of Corid (Amprolium , 10oz for $22

.) I dosed them and didn't lose another one, it works well and quickly, but it would have been cheaper to feed the medicated chick starter and remembered to give them a clump of grass a couple of time a week. Here in the south, with the heat and humidity, cocci flourishes. It is a good idea to stick with the medicated feed (or medicate it yourself, like Tom said) until they are fully feathered and have had a chance to build up their resistance to cocci.

 

[roostercantrell]

I have only had to deal with cocci twice. Both times were when I was not feeding medicated feed, it had been unusually rainy, and the chicks went outside without having been "inoculated" with clumps of grass and roots in the brooder prior to moving outside. Once was when I had some ducks in with them and didn't want the ducks to get too much medicated feed, the other was this week! I moved them out to a small pen inside the coop (wasn't thinking) and gave them some gamebird starter because it was handy.
I lost three in 48 hours. I went to TSC and got a pack of Corid (Amprolium , 10oz for $22

.) I dosed them and didn't lose another one, it works well and quickly, but it would have been cheaper to feed the medicated chick starter and remembered to give them a clump of grass a couple of time a week. Here in the south, with the heat and humidity, cocci flourishes. It is a good idea to stick with the medicated feed (or medicate it yourself, like Tom said) until they are fully feathered and have had a chance to build up their resistance to cocci.

i found some nutrena medicated starter/grower feed at one of the local hardware stores bought a 25lb bag coz it was $2.00 more than a 5lb bag thanks for the advice that will help build up their immune system against cocci

 

[Tomtommom]

i found some nutrena medicated starter/grower feed at one of the local hardware stores bought a 25lb bag coz it was $2.00 more than a 5lb bag thanks for the advice that will help build up their immune system against cocci

It drives me crazy how they can charge so much for those small bags.. I understand packaging costs a bit, but the difference in price per ounce is REALLY big.

 

[Tomtommom]

Oh, wisher, you may want to check out http://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/store/

I was really happy with them. They even sent me a mint and pen!

Seriously though, prices are really good, lowest prices I have found on vetRx.. and they carry every antibiotic imaginable.