INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[chickiebaby1]

Ok so I have a question about medicated chick starter. I have been feeding this to all of my chicks from the time they hatch ( or I get them) until about 16 weeks. Is there anything else I can feed them besides this? I get most of my feed at RK and they really don't have anything else. Can I make homemade chick feed, and if so what do I put in it. I want my chickies to be healthy and safe. But it is getting real expensive too. Can anyone give me advice on this one. Thanks

 

[LonelyPageTurne]

2blrw
1legbar
All pullets
2silkie Roos one blue partridge one splash partridge
1pair gold partridge brahmas


Make me an offer. Willing to trade for frozen chicken or turkey corpses

 

[twoboystwogirls]

2blrw
1legbar
All pullets
2silkie Roos one blue partridge one splash partridge
1pair gold partridge brahmas


Make me an offer. Willing to trade for frozen chicken or turkey corpses

Do you have any pics? Also, what are their ages?

 

[twoboystwogirls]

Ok so I have a question about medicated chick starter. I have been feeding this to all of my chicks from the time they hatch ( or I get them) until about 16 weeks. Is there anything else I can feed them besides this? I get most of my feed at RK and they really don't have anything else. Can I make homemade chick feed, and if so what do I put in it. I want my chickies to be healthy and safe. But it is getting real expensive too. Can anyone give me advice on this one. Thanks

Do you have a feed store near you? They will usually grind feed for you and then you can add the medication yourself. Sometimes they will do that as well.

 

[Faraday40]

Cocci can hit at any age, chicks are more prone to it in the first week, and some say 3rd week. damp chilly conditions seem to invite it. Damp conditions period is what I have seen, stress can also bring it on when a birds immunity is compromised.
My brush with cocci in chickens was with meat birds I brought home 2 years ago. They were pretty dirty, and in muddy conditions. I should not have traded for them. Already 4 weeks old, and I don't think the tractor they were in had ever been moved. I got them home, and in 2 days found them to be droopy, listless and feathers poofed out. I started reading and looking on BYC and realized it was cocci. Got corid, and saved all but one. The only bird that was pooping blood is the one that died.The coop they moved into had not housed animals before, it was a storage shed Dad built with a gravel floor, and only had a few rakes and shovels in it. I have seen rehomed adult birds get it if they are exposed to the ground too fast. Adults I bring in are caged off the ground to prevent that problem too.
Main thing to remember is dry conditions. Cocci can't thrive if its dry. Allow adults time to acclimate slowly to the new flock and what they are exposed to.

That's good to know. I've never gotten an adult bird & probably won't, so that will limit some exposure. They only chicks I've added have been hatched here, so perhaps that's in my favor too. I'll have to research cocci more. I have a little chicken med kit with common things like vet tape, antibiotic ointment, Vaseline for the winter, electrolyte mix, etc. Do you keep corid on hand in your yours, or is it purchased only as needed? In other words, is it something I will probably see often?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Ok so I have a question about medicated chick starter. I have been feeding this to all of my chicks from the time they hatch ( or I get them) until about 16 weeks. Is there anything else I can feed them besides this? I get most of my feed at RK and they really don't have anything else. Can I make homemade chick feed, and if so what do I put in it. I want my chickies to be healthy and safe. But it is getting real expensive too. Can anyone give me advice on this one. Thanks

Just my opinion (based on sound research from what I've read...)
I don't feed medicated. The cocci med in it is a thiamin blocker and can cause nutritional deficiencies that can cause lameness and eventual death. The effects are worse for some breeds depending on disposition.

I'd feed regular feed and only treat for cocci if there is an issue. There's a good amount of research on the efficacy of correctly used deep litter and how it can help prevent cocci. In addition, you can bring in sod plugs to use in the brooder to expose them to the soils from day 1 which helps them build immunity. Many of the cocci cases are from chicks being put out on ground about 3 weeks after having been totally secluded from the ground and chicken house. That causes the higher level of cocci you hear about at that age. The early exposure has also been shown to help build immunities.

Even if you do use med. feed, it should only be used for a short time. So you can switch over to a regular chick feed pretty early.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

2blrw
1legbar
All pullets
2silkie Roos one blue partridge one splash partridge
1pair gold partridge brahmas


Make me an offer. Willing to trade for frozen chicken or turkey corpses

Where are you located?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Well I am on my way to Michigan......it is going to be a long drive

 

[Kassafrass]

I don't think I'll ever be ready for snow, much less this early on!
So sorry to hear about your loss. Hopefully you can find some replacement birds!
Brrr, it was cold up here, too! And, I didn't have a jacket to wear out to do my chores because the darned cats used it as a litter box!








Anyone else up north going to the Kendallville Apple Festival today? It's not really chicken-related, but I'll probably be wearing my Indiana BYCer shirt there this afternoon, so if anyone sees me feel free to say hi! Can't wait for apple dumplings and fritters and hot chocolate and fudge!

I was there!!! If i had seen the shirt, i would have definitely introduced myself.

 

[Mskayladog]

I'm looking for fertile eggs from full sized hens. I'm in New salisbury Indiana.