Illnesses and Defects

[thaiturkey]

Every day on BYC I see posts about chicken illnesses and defects and I wonder why they seem to be so common.

We have a rapidly growing flock of banties. They free range and roost in the trees. We add to their diet some chicken feed and discarded cooked rice and other kitchen scraps. They love ripe papaya and mango. Their water is laced with medication to ward of chills. We suffer very few losses by natural causes. One rooster took ill and died and the last to hatch from any clutch may not make it.

So why all the problems reported here? Is it that disease is more easily contracted amongst birds kept in coops and runs? Is it inbreeding of pedigree flocks. Is it climate? Is it processed feed?

What do you think?

 

[realsis]

first I'm wondering if you don't mind my asking what medication do you add to the water? and what do you mean chills? like to keep them from getting cold? or what? please explain? I know illness can happen to ANY flock at Any time so I feel blessed that so far I have a healthy flock and I pray it stays that way. illness can travel in the air and there is nothing we can do about it. I don't think its anything any ones does or free range vrs. raised in a pen and run. I believe it just happens. sometimes things like Marek's is just in the air. I do believe in vaccination myself but even with that birds can still get ill like with Marek's. consider yourself lucky if you haven't had any troubles. but I believe illness can strike any chicken at ANY time. common illness is just that; COMMON. all we can do is our best and pray it won't strike our flock. I know people take excellent care of their flock and illness still strikes. most are carried from the air. its Not anything anyone did or didn't do in my opinion. its just something that happens
.. that's my opinion on it. others may disagree and that's OK but this is how I see it. that no one is really safe from it and it just happens sometimes unfortunately.

 

[loveourbirds]

free range birds do seem to be healthier. closed coops give limited sometimes way to dry breathing conditions. that being said, I raise mine in coops that are wood half way up and wire on top. I close off the wire areas in winter with plastic. we have about 375 birds in pair and trio cages for selective breeding purposes. we also raise another 1000 or so a year to select new breeding stock. the growing stock is raised in brooders, then moved to 8x8 tractor pens that are only 3' high at the peak. we cover them with a 9x12 tarp. in the heat of summer we do put a blower aiming at the top to move the air and keep it cooler if needed.

doing all of this, I have learned that the more chickens you have in any given area, the more problems and sickness you will have. the same thing happens with people, dogs, cats, pretty much all animals. I know several people who do like you do and add antibiotics to the water on a regular basis, but I personally do not agree with that practice. I have had illness become immune to antibiotics over time. however I do agree with using medicated chick starter. this allows your chicks to get minor illnesses and recover, not just cocci.

for preventative maintenance we give unpasteurized raw apple cider vinegar 1/3-1/2 cup in 5 gallons of water one day a week. we do give antibiotics if needed in water or by injection. but raising all the birds we raise, I typically don't go through more than 3 packets a year on chickens. (I do go through a considerable amount with turkeys)

with all of this the worst illness we had on our farm is egg binding/ prolapse from overfeeding or to much fat in the feed. we add black oil sunflower seed in our mix, and we used way to much.

back to your question, here is a list of things that impact illness in your flock.
free range usually less illness
caged birds, usually less animal attacks
nearby cornfields, lakes, ponds, feeders, or anything that draws wild birds, more illness in your flock.
not letting people walk through your coop, less illness. but if you do, make them clean their feet, or wear rubber slip over boots.
quality of feed, the more nutrition the less illness you will have.
keep them waterers clean. a lot less illness, problems breed in the community watering hole.
when a bird appears sick, move it away from your flock and treat accordingly. (whole pen if breeding like I do)
people who properly give table scraps to their birds have a lot less illness.

I feel like Im writing a book here

hope this helps you along.

brian

 

[thaiturkey]

first I'm wondering if you don't mind my asking what medication do you add to the water? and what do you mean chills? like to keep them from getting cold? or what? please explain? I know illness can happen to ANY flock at Any time so I feel blessed that so far I have a healthy flock and I pray it stays that way. illness can travel in the air and there is nothing we can do about it. I don't think its anything any ones does or free range vrs. raised in a pen and run. I believe it just happens. sometimes things like Marek's is just in the air. I do believe in vaccination myself but even with that birds can still get ill like with Marek's. consider yourself lucky if you haven't had any troubles. but I believe illness can strike any chicken at ANY time. common illness is just that; COMMON. all we can do is our best and pray it won't strike our flock. I know people take excellent care of their flock and illness still strikes. most are carried from the air. its Not anything anyone did or didn't do in my opinion. its just something that happens
.. that's my opinion on it. others may disagree and that's OK but this is how I see it. that no one is really safe from it and it just happens sometimes unfortunately.

It's called Bio + B12. The script on the pack is in English and Thai so I guess it's a foreign product produced under licence, here. I just asked my wife, who administers it, to tell me exactly what is does She says that it helps the birds, chicks in particular, to gain strength and resistance to illness. Chills are possible here at times of the year when the night temperature is much lower than the day temperature and during the rainy season.

When our cockerel became ill, I noticed that he was separate from the rest of the flock. If he was in a pen or coop with them, his illness may have spread.

 

[thaiturkey]

free range birds do seem to be healthier. closed coops give limited sometimes way to dry breathing conditions. that being said, I raise mine in coops that are wood half way up and wire on top. I close off the wire areas in winter with plastic. we have about 375 birds in pair and trio cages for selective breeding purposes. we also raise another 1000 or so a year to select new breeding stock. the growing stock is raised in brooders, then moved to 8x8 tractor pens that are only 3' high at the peak. we cover them with a 9x12 tarp. in the heat of summer we do put a blower aiming at the top to move the air and keep it cooler if needed.

doing all of this, I have learned that the more chickens you have in any given area, the more problems and sickness you will have. the same thing happens with people, dogs, cats, pretty much all animals. I know several people who do like you do and add antibiotics to the water on a regular basis, but I personally do not agree with that practice. I have had illness become immune to antibiotics over time. however I do agree with using medicated chick starter. this allows your chicks to get minor illnesses and recover, not just cocci.

for preventative maintenance we give unpasteurized raw apple cider vinegar 1/3-1/2 cup in 5 gallons of water one day a week. we do give antibiotics if needed in water or by injection. but raising all the birds we raise, I typically don't go through more than 3 packets a year on chickens. (I do go through a considerable amount with turkeys)

with all of this the worst illness we had on our farm is egg binding/ prolapse from overfeeding or to much fat in the feed. we add black oil sunflower seed in our mix, and we used way to much.

back to your question, here is a list of things that impact illness in your flock.
free range usually less illness
caged birds, usually less animal attacks
nearby cornfields, lakes, ponds, feeders, or anything that draws wild birds, more illness in your flock.
not letting people walk through your coop, less illness. but if you do, make them clean their feet, or wear rubber slip over boots.
quality of feed, the more nutrition the less illness you will have.
keep them waterers clean. a lot less illness, problems breed in the community watering hole.
when a bird appears sick, move it away from your flock and treat accordingly. (whole pen if breeding like I do)
people who properly give table scraps to their birds have a lot less illness.

I feel like Im writing a book here

hope this helps you along.

brian

Thanks, Brian.

I have heard that cider vinegar is good for them. I happen to have a large bottle of it for making mint sauce so I'll try it.

Following your advice, I'll keep moving the water and feed to new ground.

 

[loveourbirds]

mint sauce has me scratching my head. ive never had it but with vinegar and mint sounds like it might be great on fish.

also has me wondering if it might not be good for respiratory illnesses too, mint naturally opens sinuses. typically the more oxygen, the faster we heal.

another thought I did forget to mention, chicks raised by hens typically don't get cocci.

just a couple of thoughts, I know this is kind of random.

 

[realsis]

It's called Bio + B12. The script on the pack is in English and Thai so I guess it's a foreign product produced under licence, here. I just asked my wife, who administers it, to tell me exactly what is does She says that it helps the birds, chicks in particular, to gain strength and resistance to illness. Chills are possible here at times of the year when the night temperature is much lower than the day temperature and during the rainy season.

When our cockerel became ill, I noticed that he was separate from the rest of the flock. If he was in a pen or coop with them, his illness may have spread.

thank you I was confused. sounds like a great product! I also give a vitamin B . called vita pro B its B vitamins too! hopefully it
is helpful! thank you again for explaining

 

[thaiturkey]

mint sauce has me scratching my head. ive never had it but with vinegar and mint sounds like it might be great on fish.

also has me wondering if it might not be good for respiratory illnesses too, mint naturally opens sinuses. typically the more oxygen, the faster we heal.

another thought I did forget to mention, chicks raised by hens typically don't get cocci.

just a couple of thoughts, I know this is kind of random.

I've used mint sauce only on lamb but with grilled or poached fish it could also be good. Mint leaves in the cooking water also enhance boiled potatoes.

These links might interest you:

http://food52.com/blog/627-mint-sauce-no-not-that-kind-for-lamb

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-mint.html

http://www.bonappetit.com/ideas/mint-recipes/search

 

[thaiturkey]

thank you I was confused. sounds like a great product! I also give a vitamin B . called vita pro B its B vitamins too! hopefully it
is helpful! thank you again for explaining

Thanks, I'll look out for those vitamins.

 

[Zrcalo]

I live in a sub tropical desert climate too. I've suffered very /very/ little loss. Only three chickens in the past nine years!!!
I've found that during the monsoon they can become a bit droopy, and I've had to medicate twice for something. It was respiratory so I combated it with terramycin, tetracycline, and ornacyn b plus.
Always worked for me.

My chickens free range in the backyard but mostly stay under the palm trees or under the coop during the summer months. always make sure they have enough water. I feed them ordinary chick scratch and whatever scraps are from my table.

It can get up to 120 degrees fahrenheit here!