Any other way to prevent coccidiosis than chick starter?

[SassyKat6181]

I received 4 male chicks with my 10 ducks today "for warmth". I cannot feed the ducks medicated starter, and cannot separate the chicks and ducks in the brooder. Is there any other way to protect them?

 

[midd2005]

lots of people don't feed medicated starter.

i went with a slow but steady exposure to the future outside area. at around 10 days old i started putting clumps of dirt and grass in their brooder for them to mess around with. shortly thereafter i started taking them outside to play for short whiles (this is obviously weather dependent). all of this was an attempt to have them build up a tolerance to cocci. i can't say that this did the trick but i didn't lose any chicks either.

 

[maizey]

Quote:
Ditto

 

[Zanna]

After losing many young chickens 2-3 weeks after moving them out of the brooder and into the main coop with the older flock I started with the same routine as the other posts. Actually, when they are just a few days old, I start adding small amounts each day of dirt/poop from and around the grown bird coop into the brooder with the chicks. Cocci usually shows up 2 - 3 weeks after exposure so I mark the callender and watch them like a hawk. If no symptoms have shown up by week four they have usually built up their immunity to it and you are good to go. I have corid on hand if I need to treat but I have never had too and have not lost a single young bird in two years after starting this regimen. This has worked for me.......... Oregon is wet/damp and cocci is a big problem here.

 

[Judy]

Feed which is medicated with amprolium is safe for ducks.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Trust this. I raised ducklings on it just fine. More than once.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I've been told over and over by the locals not to give medicated feed to ducks. Apparently everyone has their own opinion....but when I was told "You WILL kill them!" I got worried.

 

[speckledhen]

If it makes you feel any better, even on medicated feed, they can still get coccidiosis. Mine always seem to if they've been raised in a brooder for 3-4 weeks and then hit the ground. It's just in the soil. I'd feed non-medicated if they even had such a thing here and I keep Corid on hand just in case.

 

[PepsNick]

Quote:
Are these people your feed store employees, by any chance? ......

I don't freak out about cocci. Treat with corid, and that is usually all it takes. Keep the coop dry and clean. Medicate. If they still get it, treat it. Done.

 

[LOVEMYCHICKS03]

We live in ME and we'v never got cocci. Before we have never used medicated and are chicks are as healthy as can be! Keep it clean and slowly introduce them to the dirt and grass this will help them build a tolerance, another thing you could do is KEEP IT DRY! Also keep water clean and fresh at all times!
Put some apple cider vinegar in the water too. Good luck with yo chix!