Exposing chicks to soil to prevent coccidiosis

[SueT]

I picked some greens with a dirt plug and put it in the brooder because the 3-6week old like to forage in it. could i have had introduced coccidia to them? i just had a 2 week old chick die. if anyone is reading this look up my user name and read my post. Is the symptoms in my post coccidia?

They could get coccidia, given their age, which would include symptoms of bloody diarrhea.... have you been giving them them medicated feed? The younger you start them on soil the better, such as in the first week. This early start will help boost their immunity to coccidiosis, as eventually they will be exposed one way or the other. It helps but they certainly can still get it. At 3-6 weeks, mine are out into the coop/run. One very wet spring I saw symptoms of coccidia in several my 1-2 month olds that now had access to the outdoors. I put Corid in their drinking water, and it cleared up in a few days. I gave it to the entire flock.

 

[preciouschick]

They could get coccidia, given their age, which would include symptoms of bloody diarrhea.... have you been giving them them medicated feed? The younger you start them on soil the better, such as in the first week. This early start will help boost their immunity to coccidiosis, as eventually they will be exposed one way or the other. It helps but they certainly can still get it. At 3-6 weeks, mine are out into the coop/run. One very wet spring I saw symptoms of coccidia in several my 1-2 month olds that now had access to the outdoors. I put Corid in their drinking water, and it cleared up in a few days. I gave it to the entire flock.

i feed non medicated to my silkys. should i switch to medicated?

 

[SueT]

i feed non medicated to my silkys. should i switch to medicated?

Oh gosh, this is an ages old question here on BYC. I do not feed medicated feed. I was just wondering if the person whose chick died uses it. There are LOTS of threads on the pros and cons of medicated feed. Some of BYC’s wisest pundits have offered advice on these threads, including this one. It’s worth studying.
I am not opposed to giving baby chicks medicated feed, but I do believe that introducing soil provides a extra layer of protection.

 

[Folly's place]

Some properties have a lower amount of coccidia present, at least most years. Other properties have very high amount of the parasite, and that's where amprolium treated feed pays off for the chicks. There's no 'one size fits all' answer here.
It's necessary to have the chicks on medicated feed for a couple of weeks after they are exposed to the soil in their environment, if they are at risk for coccidiosis.
Waiting to see if anyone gets sick isn't the best choice...
Mary

 

[rascal66]

Good post, Beer Can.

This is how I've been managing it for years, with good results. No issues with coccidiosis, no need for medicated feed.

I get my chicks started on crumble feed and Poultry Nutri - Drench fortified water. Any time after they know what the feed is all about, and are eating and drinking well, and filling their crops, I bring in a plug of sod, or a dish of soil. I may bring sod from my lawn. (usually have to find a chunk that was turned up by the snow plow, b/c my soil is still frozen when I start chicks!) Or, I may bring in some soil scraped up from my garden, or some soil/DL from my run.

I see to it that they have a fresh sod/scoop of soil, or some DL compost on a regular basis. I also scoop up some gravel from my driveway to supply their grit needs. Be sure that where ever you are getting your sod/soil from that it is from an untreated area. NO insecticides/herbicides.

IMO, it's important to start that sod/soil very soon. There is a 2 week window of opportunity after hatch when the chick's immune system is at it's strongest. She receives immunity from the hen, just as a human baby receives antibodies from her mother. But, if you're late getting started with this, don't worry. IMO, better late than never. Whether you use medicated feed or not, early exposure to soil/cocci exposure is important!

I do not change out the litter in my brooder, unless there has been a water spill. (You can avoid spills by hanging the waterer from a chain.) It's then super easy to keep raising it as the chicks grow. As they soil the litter, I simply add more. For convenience sake, I use shavings for my chicks. But, by the time they are 2 - 3 weeks old, they are already playing in the DL of the soil floor of their grow out coop, anyways.

My chicks also get fermented feed. I introduce that during the first week, and have found that the sooner it is introduced, the sooner they make a complete transition to FF. As soon as they are all eating the FF well, I cease to provide dry crumble, and give only FF.

What is FF?