B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[Bentley]

That coop does look great!!! Good luck with your birds!

 

[pysankigirl]

your new coop is very nice! I bet your chickens will love it. good job!

 

[pysankigirl]

I never thought about putting goldfish in to take care of the bugs! too funny! do they grow into carp? how do they fare in the winter? (or do you just get new ones in the spring?)

We are eventually going to put gutters on our house (yeah...no gutters yet...been building the house for 6 years... it is the never-ending project) and shunt all the water to tanks under the deck for use on the garden. And I like the goldfish idea! I don't care if they pee in water we aren't going to drink anyway!

 

[pysankigirl]

All medicated feed does is give your chicks a small amount of the medication, not enough to kill coccidia but just enough so that they develop their own immunity to it when exposed to ground/dirt when they're little. If they never are exposed to any ground that's ever had coccidia shed on it then they're not getting any exposure so they won't build up any immunity at all. So if they're exposed later on in life they'll then come down with the disease itself.

This was my understanding, too. I was told here on BYC to feed the medicated feed to help integrate chicks from different flocks because they all have their own coccida that they bring to the table and it will help in the beginning getting their immunities to the other versions. and as I am just starting off, I was integrating chicks from 4 different places.

I have very clean/dry coop (I use the sweet PDZ in the pooop-trays and scoop it once a week) and they free range during the day, so I probably would have been okay, but I am also very new to this so when someone who knows chickens tells me to do something, I tend to err on the side of caution. Hopefully by the time they start laying, the corrid will be out of their systems. They are on organic layer feed now. My local Southern states co-op sells the Countryside Organics!!!!!

 

[ki4got]

I never thought about putting goldfish in to take care of the bugs! too funny! do they grow into carp? how do they fare in the winter? (or do you just get new ones in the spring?)

We are eventually going to put gutters on our house (yeah...no gutters yet...been building the house for 6 years... it is the never-ending project) and shunt all the water to tanks under the deck for use on the garden. And I like the goldfish idea! I don't care if they pee in water we aren't going to drink anyway!

i just get the comet goldfish (they aslo call them feeder goldfish). they live year round as long as the water doesn't freeze solid. i've got a few that are probably 3-4 years old now. as for water quality, the fish bring with them bacteria that takes care of their byproducts, turning it into plantfood essentially. but i also include native aquatic plants in the bottom of the tubs. for shelter for the fish from predators and sunlight mostly. raccoons and herons LOVE goldfish. LOL you know the water's healthy, when you have to 'weed' it about twice a summer.

a friend did a similar setup but uses an in-ground concrete tank (probably 500 gallons) for his horses, with a submerged tank de-icer.

 

[greenhorn]

Thanks Bently and pysankigirl! Got the gutters put on the coop yesterday and I think it really added a nice touch to the look. I'll try and get pics today of the coop and our Dorkings.

 

[blessedacre]

Lisa, I'm so sorry about your loss.

Thanks for this info - it's really useful. I hope I never have to use it, but it's better to know, just in case.
I have never fed my flocks medicated feed - they've haven't ever been sick with anything to medicate. I just found out for a fact that they don't have worms. (OK, I'm sure they'll get something nasty now that I said that.) I feel blessed and very lucky.
Kibi

Thanks Kibi
All are doing well . we are on day 7 and I plan to treat for 10 days and then we should be cocci free

. I also found this product http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/coccidia.html and it has many of the herbs I am using and then some, there is a post on BYC of some one using Kocci Free and it was successful for her. I also have been feeding them re-hydrated Nettle. Free choice of course!! I have been making a Yarrow and calendula infusion (tea) that I steep for a few hours, this too is free choice. I put it in a little waterer, like the one for the chicks, both of these herbs are nourishing and healing. Although I did give the ACV at first I did stop because: Parasites like acidic environments (like most pathogens) the grapefruit seed extract alkalies your body to help establish an environment not conducive to the parasite (although coccidiosis is a protozoa it is still a parasite as well) grapefruit seed extract was first produced to combat protozoa. The yogurt, powdered milk and buttermilk mesh is good for their intestines but use it in small amounts all 3 of those ingredients are acidic. Anyways it has been stressful for me, the chickens are doing fine and I am getting between 3-5 beautiful eggs a day from 5 hens so I think they are doing better than me

. I am glad to have been able to use alternatives for this situation. I think the amount of prayer I put into the past 7 days has alto to do with the out come as well

I also have been putting a sliced up clove of garlic in their water. garlic stimulates the immune system and one of the issues with cocci are the secondary infections that happen with the disease. garlic, although it does not attack the protozoa it does help boost their system and helps combat other issues. Nettle is very high in minerals and nourishing but it is also a diahretic and with the diaherra caused by the cocci and the parasite cleanse I am using flushes their system so I have to monitor the nettle. I have been putting a homemade electrolyte mix: 2 tsp sugar, 1/8 tsp baking soda, 1/8 tsp salt dissolve in 1 cup of water and add to 1 gallon drinking water. I have been doing this to avoid dehydration issues. anyways I hope my journey can help someone else

Lisa

 

[Sarmes]

I have 4 SG pullets, and at least one started laying three weeks ago. I found one egg and none since. They have plenty of nest boxes with decoys or other hens' eggs, but I have yet to find the stash of pullet eggs in the 1.5 acres they roam. Are Dorking pullets normally this secretive about where they lay eggs? If so, they're worse than my Muscovy duck!

 

[ki4got]

I have 4 SG pullets, and at least one started laying three weeks ago. I found one egg and none since. They have plenty of nest boxes with decoys or other hens' eggs, but I have yet to find the stash of pullet eggs in the 1.5 acres they roam. Are Dorking pullets normally this secretive about where they lay eggs? If so, they're worse than my Muscovy duck!

LOL YUP! tho my 'worst' girl for hiding her eggs, decided to go broody too. (excuse the disaster called 'under my deck')





edit: meant to add, she'd made her 'nest' on the bare shelf among some odds & ends we had stored there... when i found it, she had 5 eggs already stashed, so i modified the 'nest' with the feed pan and some shavings, and between her and whoever else helped, a total of 19 eggs were deposited there. (fakes left, good eggs removed). she's been broody for over 2 weeks, and i'm going to move her soon, inside to a brooder box, to receive a 'gift' of 10 EE eggs set for a customer. they're due to hatch on the 5th.

 

[Sarmes]

LOL YUP! tho my 'worst' girl for hiding her eggs, decided to go broody too. (excuse the disaster called 'under my deck')

Clever girl! I suspect mine are making good use of the 1/4 acre of oak trees and 7' tall blackberries. The SGs just blend right in with the dried leaves.