Arizona Chickens

[noodlegirl]

Oh, yeh...I forgot all about adding that to their water. I've had to clean their waterer daily lately.
BTW. this started before I started using the spray bottle to train them to stay off the porch...but the youngest one is the last one on the porch and usually doesn't get it.

Add some ACV to their water and see if that helps.

(Apple Cider Vinegar) Make sure you use the "good" kind.

 

[In2Ice]

Is coccosis a big problem in the valley? My chicks are 6 weeks old and have been on medicated starter mash but now I am putting them on grower crumbles and it is non-medicated. They have been in the garage but I want to move them out in the next week. Do you think their immune system is strong enough to be on non-medicated or is Coccosis not a problem here due to how dry it is?
Thanks

 

[Mahonri]

It's in the dirt. Just feed them and water them and watch to keep them healthy.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Is coccosis a big problem in the valley? My chicks are 6 weeks old and have been on medicated starter mash but now I am putting them on grower crumbles and it is non-medicated. They have been in the garage but I want to move them out in the next week. Do you think their immune system is strong enough to be on non-medicated or is Coccosis not a problem here due to how dry it is?
Thanks

As Mahonri said, it's in the dirt. The medication in medicated chick starter is amprolium, a thiamine (vitamin B1) B1 blocker. When chicks come into contact with coccidiosis, the amprolium causes the cocci to starve to death due to lack of thiamine. This gives the chicks a chance to develop some resistance against the coccidiosis while the pathogen is in a weakened state. Once it develops resistance, the chick is less likely to develop severe symptoms with further encounters with coccidiosis. So, medicated chick starter is most effective when the chicks have some chance of encountering the pathogen (probably not a big chance in your garage). I think it's important to get chicks out onto the soil on which they will live as soon as possible so that they can begin developing resistance. Interestingly, chicks raised by their mother are much less likely to show severe symptoms from coccidiosis. They develop early immunity through contact with their mother's droppings and the soil. FWIW, I don't feed medicated chick starter. I put my chicks out into their tractor brooder from the first week of age and I haven't yet had any issues with coccidiosis. The other thing you can do is be mindful of the conditions that promote coccidiosis--soil that remains wet for more than a week or so can facilitate growth and development. During the summer many of us water down parts of the run to help the birds cool off; I think it's best to rotate the spots that you wet down so that any spot fully dries out between watering.

 

[AZBootsie]

I agree early exposure is best. I give my chicks 3 weeks to ensure the Mareks vaccine has done it's thing. Then I put several inches of sand/soil from an outside pen, in a small cat litter pan and keep it in the brooder for the chicks to dust bathe in. For me, it is much easier to keep an eye on them while they are still in the house. If I see watery stools, then I treat with 5 days of sulmet. Only once have I had to treat. Using medicated feed must be OK, so many people do with out any problems. I just prefer to medicate only if needed.

 

[itsredcandy]

10/27 is my sister's brthday!

Ya know, this could be some kinda online game linking thread type thing...

I think it could. 10/27 is my dad's birthday and brother in laws birthday as well

~Selina

 

[itsredcandy]

I too have been smoke free after 20 years. It will be 4 years on St. Patricks Day. Just have to take one day at a time. I still get an occasional craving

In2lice, congratulations!! It takes a lot of will power. I was really ticked off that something so small could have so much control over my life. I was mad that I would give the same excuses for smoking as I'd see heroin addicts give on "Intervention". I knew it was time to be done with it.

~Selina

 

[itsredcandy]

So excited again. My husband started building our coop last night. He's building it opposite of how I wanted it to sit but still in the same location. I want it build to look like a barn red playhouse with a white fenced porch. The porch will be facing the yard instead of the sitting area (as I wanted it) but that's ok. He made a good point, he can build more nesting boxed on the long end, which would be the back of the playhouse rather than the shorter end (the sides). He's got the base floor frame cut and just needs to put that together. He's going to work on it more this weekend. I've told him he's only got a few weeks left before it's time to put the chicks out.

I'm thinking of growing some sort of ivy (grapes, roses, etc) on the run chicken wire. Any suggestions that will grow faster than the chickens can eat it, won't make the chickens sick and will be resilient in the heat/west sun exposure? Has anyone does this?

~Selina

 

[azpenguin]

The beautiful buff Wyandotte roo just got dropped off at the feed store. He's been attacking us all week when we've been trying to feed and water, so no more of that. We still have the BLRW splash roo we got from constance - he's friendly and we can pet him and pick him up. Reaction to the roo going away - "Hey, room for another hen or two!" The guy at the feed store took one look at the roo and said, "I can guarantee you this one will sell today."

The three bantams we hatched are coming up on 14 weeks. VERY friendly; I can pick them up easily and they've even been known to jump into my hands. Got a roo (hopefully only one) in that batch. I think it was deborahthesilkie that was interested in the bantam roo - if so (or anyone else), PM me and we'll chat. The only problem we have with keeping the little roo is that we have his father in the pen that we're planning to move them into, and they already don't get along. Bantam Cochin roos are cute, funny, and good looking, but boy oh boy do they have "little man's disease!"

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

itsredcandy, Post pics of your coop build! I recommend grapes for vining cover and forage. Check out pics of my coop at the link just under my avatar.

azpenquin,