Are they eating the dirt?

[Esc_Quaily]

Thank you! It makes me nervous putting anything new in their brooder. Even the dirt. I understand that it can boost their immunity, same reasoning as why I let my kids dig in the dirt to their hearts' content.

But then I worry, what if it's contaminated somehow with something that makes them sick? We don't use poisons of any sort in our yard or garden, so my worry is more about some illness wild birds might leave behind. But I tend to be a chronic worrier and overthinker.

Hello @ChickenChik46 if you are worried about contamination you can bake the soil before giving it to them either by spreading it out and covering with tarp in the sunshine or by baking it in an oven. I haven’t done this myself but it's been recommended by gardening folk to be able to reuse soil. It sounds like a faff to me but if it can put your mind to rest it's probably worth giving a shot.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Hello @ChickenChik46 if you are worried about contamination you can bake the soil before giving it to them either by spreading it out and covering with tarp in the sunshine or by baking it in an oven. I haven’t done this myself but it's been recommended by gardening folk to be able to reuse soil. It sounds like a faff to me but if it can put your mind to rest it's probably worth giving a shot.

Thank you! I've actually heard of gardeners doing this as well. The medicated feed arrived yesterday, so I switched them to that ahead of their field trips outside. They'll be 3 weeks old next week, so I'm going to start taking them out on nice days to get used to the outdoors.

 

[Esc_Quaily]

Thank you! I've actually heard of gardeners doing this as well. The medicated feed arrived yesterday, so I switched them to that ahead of their field trips outside. They'll be 3 weeks old next week, so I'm going to start taking them out on nice days to get used to the outdoors.

Someone more experienced will come along and give you a better understanding but medicated food isn't recommended. I received an info sheet for the chick crumbs with added Avatec that says in capital letters DO NOT FEED TO BIRDS PRODUCING EGGS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Avatec contains an ionophore which is deadly to horses and human cells. I'm frantically trying to source an inmedicated feed for my quail.

 

[NatJ]

Someone more experienced will come along and give you a better understanding but medicated food isn't recommended. I received an info sheet for the chick crumbs with added Avatec that says in capital letters DO NOT FEED TO BIRDS PRODUCING EGGS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Avatec contains an ionophore which is deadly to horses and human cells. I'm frantically trying to source an inmedicated feed for my quail.

Good reminder to always read the label!

There are several different medications that can be found in chicken food, and the instructions are different for different ones.

I notice that you are in Scotland.
I am in the USA, where the most common medication in chick starter is Amprolium, which is considered to be safe for laying hens and for meat birds (according to the FDA which regulates such things.)

Of course that is at the present time: if anyone reads this in a few years, there might be a different "most common" medication, or the FDA might be saying something different about this one. And there are some feeds with other medications available here too, just not quite as common.

For the poster you quoted, I don't see a location in their profile, so I do not know whether your experience or mine is likely to be more like theirs, or whether theirs may be different yet.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Someone more experienced will come along and give you a better understanding but medicated food isn't recommended. I received an info sheet for the chick crumbs with added Avatec that says in capital letters DO NOT FEED TO BIRDS PRODUCING EGGS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Avatec contains an ionophore which is deadly to horses and human cells. I'm frantically trying to source an inmedicated feed for my quail.

This one doesn't contain that. It's amprolium instead to help prevent coccidiosis. I've read a lot of conflicting information about medicated feed, and at first I chose not to use it. Amprolium has no withdrawal period. Not to say it is without risks, but I feel comfortable using it.

The environment where I live is hot, humid, and we've had an a ton of rain so coccidiosis is a very real threat. I may choose not use the medicated feed going forward as I continue to learn more about raising chicks.

Good reminder to always read the label!

There are several different medications that can be found in chicken food, and the instructions are different for different ones.

I notice that you are in Scotland.
I am in the USA, where the most common medication in chick starter is Amprolium, which is considered to be safe for laying hens and for meat birds (according to the FDA which regulates such things.)

Of course that is at the present time: if anyone reads this in a few years, there might be a different "most common" medication, or the FDA might be saying something different about this one. And there are some feeds with other medications available here too, just not quite as common.

For the poster you quoted, I don't see a location in their profile, so I do not know whether your experience or mine is likely to be more like theirs, or whether theirs may be different yet.

I'm in the US as well. Amprolium is the only med I found in chick feed but I'm sure there are others. I'm very particular about medications. Generally speaking, I actually avoid most of them for myself and my family. If we do get sick enough to need them, I'm certainly not opposed to using them. I think overall as a country, we rely far too much on them. Totally personal opinion though and I fully support everyone's thoughts for what's best for them and their families.

I was on the fence about using medicated feed with my chicks, but then when I realized how many people who live in similar climates are dealing with coccidiosis, I thought it was probably a good idea.

I like how you added the bit about "in a few years" because that's a very good possibility. These common meds, human or animal, and recommendations change all the time. Thank you for your input!

 

[kattabelly]

Avatec (lasalocid sodium) is the only coccidiostat licensed for game birds in the UK and I think @Esc_Quaily is using a game bird feed. Amprolium can be used here for chickens and turkeys. The grower pellets I can most easily buy here used to contain Amprolium for a while and did give a withdrawal period on the label even though it's generally said not to need one - worth pointing out this isn't usually an issue when feeding chicks though, as they won't be laying eggs and usually aren't big enough to be worth eating (though that might be an issue for someone raising broilers).

E2a: we don't have wild turkeys here so they aren't generally considered a game bird.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Avatec (lasalocid sodium) is the only coccidiostat licensed for game birds in the UK and I think @Esc_Quaily is using a game bird feed. Amprolium can be used here for chickens and turkeys. The grower pellets I can most easily buy here used to contain Amprolium for a while and did give a withdrawal period on the label even though it's generally said not to need one - worth pointing out this isn't usually an issue when feeding chicks though, as they won't be laying eggs and usually aren't big enough to be worth eating (though that might be an issue for someone raising broilers).

E2a: we don't have wild turkeys here so they aren't generally considered a game bird.

I had that thought about chicks as well. They won't be on the medicated feed any longer when they're ready to lay eggs.

Every country definitely has widely varying regulations, that's for sure.

 

[2 Acres]

Here it is:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-brooder-and-coop-heater-1299682

I hope it's a decent one!

If it's anything like their feed, don't get your hopes up. The $3 increase for feed (from Kalmbach) is the better choice from Family Farm and Home. My chickens wouldn't even eat the TSC Producers Pride.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

If it's anything like their feed, don't get your hopes up. The $3 increase for feed (from Kalmbach) is the better choice from Family Farm and Home. My chickens wouldn't even eat the TSC Producers Pride.

I don't use their brand of feed for anything but cat litter. It's great for that. The brooder plate is working great though.

 

[TMurphey]

Thank you! It makes me nervous putting anything new in their brooder. Even the dirt. I understand that it can boost their immunity, same reasoning as why I let my kids dig in the dirt to their hearts' content.

But then I worry, what if it's contaminated somehow with something that makes them sick? We don't use poisons of any sort in our yard or garden, so my worry is more about some illness wild birds might leave behind. But I tend to be a chronic worrier and overthinker.

If you add a small amount of Chick Grit to your brooder they may eat that and then dirt bathe in the soil you put in from your coop area. If you aren't already you might put the dirt in a small container but big enough for them to get it and roll around in for dirt bathing. When they were real small I used a med to lg dog food bowl.