Giving dirt for immunity?

[Marylizbet]

I've read that giving chicks dirt will make them immune to cocci. Is this true? My chicks are on unmedicated starter, (it was way cheaper.) they are about 10 days old. If I give them dirt/grass clumps, will it make them immune? I want them to be healthy, and I'm reading quite a lot about keeping them clear with unmedicated and no vaccinations. Opinions? Suggestions? THanks. Mary

 

[Erica]

Marylizbet, it all depends on the dirt.

If it's had lots of chicks on it then there will be a risk of disease, especially coccidiosis. However if the soil is healthy and hasn't had a high stocking rate of chicks and chickens then it may be fine.

My last chicks I exposed to adult hen droppings in their water, just a tiny amount from day one. They were on the ground from day one as well, and would have eaten their share of soil. They're 10 weeks old now and apart from a setback a couple of days ago (with a goshawk) are looking quite well despite unmedicated cocci challenge.

It's a balancing act and easy to get wrong, but then again, plenty of people overstock the ground with chickens and get coccidiosis even when they use medicated feed...

 

[rancher hicks]

It's my understanding that medicated feed doesn't cause immunity but it does help chicks gradually get used to cocci. All chickens have it but if their system gets over whelmed they can't handle it. Medicated feed helps chicks to gradually get used to it. You don't need to use medicated feed for the outset of their chick life. A couple of months can't hurt.

 

[Marylizbet]

Thanks. Anyone else try this?

 

[Cuttlefishherder]

We just take or chicks out side so they can get some sun and a dust bath, they eat what ever they like off the ground while they're out there. I guess its a matter of preference, none of our chicks have gotten ill from this and we don't use medicated starter. Its so much fun watching little fuzz ball dust bathe for their first time, they get so in to it and the kick sand and dirt every where and bury each other

 

[chicmom]

I put a clump of grass with dirt and roots attached into my chick brooder every few days......They just love it! They tear into it and I now they eat roots, dirt, grass and all......I was told this would help prevent pasty butt, so that's why I started, and you know, I haven't had a single chick with pasty butt since I started doing that.

I do make sure I get the clump from a clean area where no other animals hang out........

I definitely will continue doing it, because the chicks like it so much!

 

[gritsar]

I'm raising my current chicks (broody hatched) on unmedicated starter. They are getting exposed to coccidia, I'm sure since our soil is ripe with it, in the droppings of the adults chickens they share a coop with, plus their mama's.

Brooder raised chicks I feed medicated starter to - to prevent the coccidiosis from overwhelming their tiny little bodies. At the same time, I get them out on the ground asap, so that they can actually be exposed to it and jump start their immune systems to build an immunity to it while the medicated starter does it's work.