Detecting Coccidiosis Early

[Erica]

So, say you have 2 week olds (hatched) and day olds (bought) sharing a brooder. What do you do? Would you move them to the tractor at the same time, or the oldest first, then the little ones when they are 3 weeks?

Probably too late to be of use LaynaDon95, but here goes: I would move them all at the same time, not to the tractor perhaps, but to a new larger brooder. Don't use fresh clean litter; it's good to take out say a quarter of the small brooder litter and sprinkle it through new stuff so there's continued exposure.

No guarantees as there's so many variables, but that's pretty much what I do when I can't be bothered tractoring (or am only brooding small numbers).

best wishes
Erica

 

[blondiebee181]

Just wanted to say that this thread helped me a lot, and thanks Erica for the great advice. It's now like 6 mos. and all my babies are growed up, and laying like fools!

Since I raised chicks and my duck together, I ended up going non-medicated flock raiser for all. But I used the gradual exposure method of introducing material from the outdoors into the brooder like dirt and leaves etc. I've never owned chickens before this, so I dunno how much of a difference in the soil that makes. I also fed them plenty of yogurt, sour cream and kefir, and it continues to be one of their favorite treats! I can't eat yogurt for breakfast and sit outside or I get SWARMED!