Chicks on damp ground?

[clickchicks]

Hello all. I've got a batch of 4 week old chicks. Its been rainy and cool here the last few days, but for now at least the rain has stopped and the temps are in the mid 70s. The ground is still damp from the rain, but no pooling water/etc.

Opinions on letting them outside for short periods in these conditions?

For background, they are on unmedicated feed and were not vaccinated for coccidiosis. I introduced them to chunks of yard grass/dirt since week one, and because the temps were high prior to the cold snap they've been going out for short (~20 min) outings since they turned 3 weeks old. I know coccidiosis can bloom in wet conditions, so its my main concern. I think the temps are warm enough (high today is 78) that they shouldn't get chilled.

 

[ExoticPetOwner]

I don't recommend letting them outside if it's cold/wet.

 

[clickchicks]

I don't recommend letting them outside if it's cold/wet.

Are we saying mid to high 70s is too cold?

 

[ExoticPetOwner]

Are we saying mid to high 70s is too cold?

High 70's are okay, but if it's wet ( and if there's wind ), there's still a good chance something might happen. Now, being that they're 4 week sold, they should be able to tolerate the temperatures better than a hatchling. You could probably still have them out, but be careful and watch them the whole time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Opinions on letting them outside for short periods in these conditions?

I think the temps are warm enough (high today is 78) that they shouldn't get chilled.

I'm not sure how you are set up, do you have to physically take them out or will you give them the option to go out. I prefer giving them the option to go out if they want to but also have the option to go in if they want to. I don't see any problem with taking them out for a while, just prefer them to make those decisions. They know more about when they are comfortable than I ever will.

Yes, Coccidiosis thrives in wet conditions but it is not an overnight thing. It takes days because of the life cycle of the bug that causes Coccidiosis. If it stays wet for a week or so, yeah pay attention. For a few days, not a big deal.

Coccidiosis isn't the only risk. If their feet stay wet constantly they can have problems. But if they can dry out in between getting soaked it's again not a big deal.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Mine have had the option to go in and out most of today. (3.5 wks old) their run is a bit "mushy" but they aren't minding. They are able to go in and out as they please and use their heat cave if they so wish.

I think as long as they can make the choice they will be just fine.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I wouldn't have any issue letting them out, but my chicks are brooded outdoors (sleeping on the run floor) so they're going to get some rain on them no matter how much I try to shelter them. I have not found a bit of rain to be an issue.

3 week old chicks with full coop and run access during daylight hours. Probably mid 60s. It had poured rain through the night. Note that I do have very good drainage so the run is surface dry while the lawn in back has obvious puddles.

 

[clickchicks]

Thank you all for the advice! Unfortunately they do not have full access, they are in a brooder in my garage. I agree that letting them choose would be a better situation.

I ended up giving them a 30 min supervised outing yesterday. I really want them to have outside time, sunlight and getting to explore outside I'm sure is more enjoyable than being in the brooder. Temps will be in the 80s today so I think we can have some more outside time if the weather holds.

I had very bad coccidiosis luck with my last chicks, so I'm a little paranoid. This time I was more proactive and started introducing them to dirt/grass/etc right away, hopefully that has helped build their immune system.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I had very bad coccidiosis luck with my last chicks, so I'm a little paranoid. This time I was more proactive and started introducing them to dirt/grass/etc right away, hopefully that has helped build their immune system.

Ooo is that a thing that works? Was debating medicated chick feed since we lost a chick before and I think it was coccidiosis.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Ooo is that a thing that works?

Try reading this. I wrote it several years ago but I consider it still valid.

First you need to know what the "medicated" is in the medicated feed. It should be on the label. Usually it is Amprolium, Amprol, some such product, but until you read the label, you really don't know. Most "medicated' feed from major brands for chicks that will be layers uses Amprolium, but there are a few out there mostly for broilers that use other medicines. I'll assume yours is an Amprolium product, but if it is not, then realize everything I say about it may not apply. And it is possible that the "medicated" is Amprolium AND something else.

Amprolium is not an antibiotic. It does not kill anything. It inhibits the protozoa that cause coccidiosis (often called Cocci on this forum) from multiplying in the chicken's system. It does not prevent the protozoa from multiplying; it just slows that multiplication down. There are several different strains of protozoa that can cause Cocci, some more severe than others. Chickens can develop immunity to a specific strain of the protozoa, but that does not give them immunity to all protozoa that cause Cocci.

It is not a big deal for the chicken’s intestines to contain some of the protozoa that cause Cocci. The problem comes in when the number of those protozoa gets huge. The protozoa can multiply in the chicken’s intestines but also in wet manure. For them to reproduce they need some moisture. Slightly damp isn't an issue, soaking wet is. Different protozoa strains have different strengths, but for almost all cases, if you keep the brooder dry, you will not have a problem.

To develop immunity to a specific strain, that protozoa needs to be in the chicks intestines for two or three weeks. The normal sequence is that a chick has the protozoa. It poops and some of the cysts that develop the protozoa come out in the poop. If the poop is slightly damp, those cysts develop and will then develop in the chick's intestines when the chicks eat that poop. This cycle needs go on for a few weeks so all chicks are exposed and they are exposed long enough to develop immunity. A couple of important points here. You do need to watch them to see if they are getting sick. And the key is to keep the brooder dry yet allow some of the poop to stay damp. Not soaking wet, just barely damp. Wet poop can lead to serious problems.

What sometimes happens is that people keep chicks in a brooder and feed them medicated feed while they are in the brooder. Those chicks are never exposed to the Cocci protozoa that lives in the dirt in their run, so they never develop the immunity to it. Then, they are switched to non-medicated feed and put on the ground where they are for the first time exposed to the protozoa. They do not have immunity, they do not have the protection of the medicated feed, so they get sick. Feeding medicated feed while in the brooder was a complete waste.

I do not feed medicated feed. I keep the brooder dry to not allow the protozoa to breed uncontrollably. The third day that they are in the brooder, I take a scoop of dirt from the run and feed it to them so I can introduce the protozoa and they can develop the immunity they need to the strain they need to develop an immunity to. Since I keep my brooder extremely dry and the water clean the protozoa can't reproduce so every three days I give them more dirt from the run so they get more protozoa and can develop immunity. I don't lose chicks to Cocci when they hit the ground.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with feeding medicated feed to chicks, whether the protozoa are present or not. It will not hurt them. They can still develop the immunity they need. But unless the protozoa are present, it also does no good.

If you get your chicks vaccinated for Cocci, do not feed medicated feed. It can negate the vaccinations.