Do your chickens eat cracked corn in scratch?

[givhansdude]

yes it was a bit watery. Today I had more chicks gone. Yes, it does look like they are holding water, I picked up one that had really wobbly legs w/very little energy, and it released water right out of its mouth when I picked it up.
These chicks aren't very young either, they are probably 2months so there not newborns. I know that doesn't matter, but I thought when you get past the days old few weeks old, thought they would be easier to keep alive.
What is the coccidiosis? And should I isolate them from the others, so I don't loose my whole flock.

 

[Chris09]

yes it was a bit watery. Today I had more chicks gone. Yes, it does look like they are holding water, I picked up one that had really wobbly legs w/very little energy, and it released water right out of its mouth when I picked it up.
These chicks aren't very young either, they are probably 2months so there not newborns. I know that doesn't matter, but I thought when you get past the days old few weeks old, thought they would be easier to keep alive.
What is the coccidiosis? And should I isolate them from the others, so I don't loose my whole flock.

Here is a link to some information on coccidiosis,
http://www.worldpoultry.net/diseases/coccidiosis-d63.html

For Cocci I like Di-Methox Sulfadimthoxine
http://www.twincitypoultrysupplies....ain_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=492

Note dont use the Di-Methox if you are feeding a medicated feed.

Chris

 

[MsLisaG]

Sounds like coccidiosis to me. PP gave some good links to info about it. I would absolutely isolate affected chicks, and thoroughly clean out the enclosure they were in. It is transferred through the poo of affected chickens so it will be easy for the other ones to catch it. Generally it is too late by the time you see blood, but the others that have runny poo *may* be able to be helped. In any case, I would medicate the entire flock. Good luck to you!

 

[Rock Home Isle]

We had corn on the cob with dinner...strange having corn on the cob at this time of year. At any rate we threw the cobs into the garden to compost...now I gotta go put 'em back in the garden.

Our 4 week old chicks discovered them and they have drug them all over the yard.

 

[givhansdude]

Thanks! Do you think spraying my coop ground w/Bleach could help kill the "C" germ?

Also, it sound like having some of that Di Methox powder on hand is pretty smart if your going to be raising pullets.
So what your saying is, it would be smart to go ahead and medicate with this powder through their water just to make sure?

I appreciate your knowledge, as I would sure love to save my flock before they all come down with it.

I was thinking it was the laying crumbles I was giving them to eat. I was told the higher volume of calcium in the laying ration could harm them (weak legs, kidney damage and death). I looked at the tag, and it did say to only feed laying crumbles to pullets right before they begin to lay.
Chick starter states feed untill 20 22 weeks of age. What you think?

 

[MsLisaG]

I would definitely continue giving them the starter until right before they begin to lay. That could be the issue here, I don't have any experience with feeding 8 weeks olds layer food though.

I would medicate everyone with the di methox, just make sure that your starter food isn't medicated. If it is, switch to non medicated while you're treating. I wouldn't use bleach on the coop, a good cleaning with soap and water should be ok. It's impossible to wipe out all traces of cocci anyway since it is in the dirt. Like I said, just give the coop a thorough cleaning and remove all traces of poop that you can. That coupled with the di methox should do the trick. Hope I helped.

 

[hunter109]

mine like corn but if they have layer or sweet feed in there they wont touch the corn. another way to get them to eat corm is to get ground corn and mix it with feed or just feed it by its self they should eat it if noe see if the feed store can grind you some up with dried mulasses in it sorry about the spelling

 

[LarissaSlates98]

Mine will eat the corn but they dont like those very tiny round seeds at all.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

i only give it as a treat, and I'm stingy with it, in the winter they get more and if they leave any they get no more until that's completely gone.

 

[Nicole01]

Yes, they love it! I use 3/4 cup sunflower seeds and 1/4-1/2 cup cracked corn for 8 hens daily as a treat.