medicated feed or not

[greyfields]

I really do not know if organic rules prevent GMO grains or not. My guess is that in the US they would not be excluded, as long as they were raised organically on certified ground. But, I guess I could be wrong.

There is no bias in the US against GMO crops like there is currently in the EU.

 

[dlhunicorn]

IF I had a large number of chicks or brooding from an incubator (neither of which is applicable in my situation) I would certainly use it IF it were available here (which it isn't >I live in Holland and medication in the chick starter is not allowed here )

Coccidia resistance cannot be transferred from the "resistant" parents genetically ... however the presence of the hen (hen caring for chickies as oposed to a brooder situation) i.e. the chicks being exposed to the cocci is important to build up resistance (you have to have exposure in order to build resistance) but only if the chicks are not overwhelmed by the oocysts (cocci) in such a great number that their system becomes overwhelmed (then you have clinical disease).

If you have a "natural" hatch (i.e. mamma taking care of chickies) then it is useful to separate the hen and chickies from the main pen (thus avoiding an area with a larger amount of poo > i.e. cooci oocysts).... cocci thrive in wet damp cool conditions so keep the nest off the ground and keep the area DRY.

If you are hatching from an incubator and keeping the chickies in a brooder inside then this is a more risk filled situation for the chickies as far as cocci is concerned as they have not been exposed to it (through mamma hen) being in a brooder all that time... in this situation , you will want to expose them gradually and you can do this by putting a bit of the dirt from the run in their brooder .(AFTER 4 weeks of age not before) underneath the shavings and only letting them out for limited amount of time and then back to the brooder environment (in this way slowly exposing them to the natural conditions of the outside environment gradually instead of all at one time.)

I have a system which works well for me (my very first birds had cocci so I know it is in my yard) ....
I have this little cat whicker basket (see photo) that my birds brood and hatch in... when they start hatching I put that (with mamma and all) inside this huge rabbit cage... this way they are off the ground and mamma can come and go through the door but the chickie can not...when they are a bit bigger I slowly make mamma stay out of the cage for longer periods ... all conditional of course on the weather and age of the chickies as she is the one providing them warmth and I do not let them on the ground till 4 weeks old. I have never lost a chick or had to treat for cocci using this system but it is hardly suitable for larger numbers of chicks.
Here is a photo of my system:

 

[the simple life]

You guys are a wealth of information! Serioiusly, its amazing how much you know, and are willing to take the time to share. Thank you so much.

 

[ella]

I like to give my brooder raised chicks a chance to develop an immune system instead of being wiped out by a perfectly preventable disease.

When I have a broody raise chicks I won't use medicated.

Amprolium is not a wide spectrum antibiotic that would affect the way a chicks immune system develops, instead it works by mimicking the structure of thiamine in a chicks system which prevents it from being used by the nasty little protozoan parasite.

It won't stop the chick from developing resistance to cocci that will come naturally as she grows. It just gives her a chance to get to that stage.

 

[greyfields]

This may or may not mean anything to you, but you cannot use coccdiostats and then market "antibiotic free" meat. It is classified as an antibiotic, even though the mechanism works differently from what an antibiotic would.

 

[BayCityBabe]

Ella wrote:
"it works by mimicking the structure of thiamine in a chicks system which prevents it from being used by the nasty little protozoan parasite. "
I don't understand this mechanism. Can you explain further?
Another question: Could we just feed more thiamine? It's a vitamin found in things like sunflower seeds & beans, which chicks like.

 

[greyfields]

No, it's the othe way around. It denies the coccidiossis thiamin and it then dies.

 

[mamarosa]

I live in southeast michigan and am having a hard time finding organic chicken feed. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[WisconsinChick]

I would never feed medicated. Antibiotics kill the good bacteria in your gut. I can imagine it would be very uncomfortable to have an upset stomach all of the time. I have never had a single chicken die of a sickness or disease in all my chicken-raising years.

 

[BayCityBabe]

Wisconsin Chick: Like the other Michigander, I am having trouble finding medicated feed. I do wonder - Do you order day-olds? Mine are due to arrive in HOURS and I am hoping that my dilligence & cleanliness will be sufficient.