Coccidiosis

[Clairemarie1982]

Hi I am confused about something maybe I can get some clarification on! So this is our first experience with chickens. I have read about the dangers of Coccidiosis and how to prevent it such as making sure the food and waterers are clean at all times from poop so they are not consuming any poop that may be infected. Which seemed obvious to me. Now that it is approaching winter I have read up on the deep liter method and how it can produce heat in the coop. I was interested in doing that but I have read that you want to keep turning the layers to create a compost and a way to get help in this is to throw the chickens some scratch on the floor so that they are turning the compost as they are pecking for their food. Why are we throwing food onto the floor where there is poop if we don’t want them eating poop?! Maybe I am missing something but I’m really confused. Any comments are appreciated!!

Claire

 

[chickens really]

Your totally correct.
Keeping Coops and runs clean and dry are the only ways to prevent a coccidiosis outbreak. Healthy birds always have coccidiosis in the intestines but when levels get too high they become sick.

 

[Clairemarie1982]

Your totally correct.
Keeping Coops and runs clean and dry are the only ways to prevent a coccidiosis outbreak. Healthy birds always have coccidiosis in the intestines but when levels get too high they become sick.

Thank you. So then would you not suggest doing the deep liter method? We have 9 chickens whom we got 1 day old in the spring and they are my children’s babies. Just trying to do everything by the book to keep them as healthy and around as long as possible!!

 

[chickens really]

Thank you. So then would you not suggest doing the deep liter method? We have 9 chickens whom we got 1 day old in the spring and they are my children’s babies. Just trying to do everything by the book to keep them as healthy and around as long as possible!!

Nope..Keep things clean..

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So then would you not suggest doing the deep liter method?

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I think it's key to remember that the DL method is inviting good bacteria and microbes to the party... verses bare ground or water is simply allowing the bad stuff to multiply out of control.

I only use semi deep litter... meaning I remove what waste I can and it's more dry... not truly decomposing actively enough to create warmth. So I won't be the best adviser for all things DL... but I do grasp the concept. And it has vastly improved the outer edges my covered run when it rains especially... which is a LOT here in the Pacific Northwest. It used to stink to high heaven when raining. Now zero smell! My aim is to mimic the forest floor.

I don't feed scratch or corn to my birds... but everyone has reasons they do their things. I don't want the extra dust from my birds turning the bedding in my pole barn. And I also use droppings boards under my roost... eliminates night time waste from coop floor and allows for a lower roost that gets used for daytime hanging out when waiting for a lay box or just avoiding weather and also for lower pecking order birds to roost before making their way to the higher roost.. making a huge overall difference and extremely easy to remove waste completely.

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