MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

The role of probiotics is to replace bacteria killed by the antibiotic and any associated changes in pH.
I am not in all honesty sure whether they work because they have the same bacteria that got killed or they alter the gut pH so that the good ones can recover from the assault of the antibiotic! Either way, there is good evidence that they work.
The reason kefir is viewed as a good probiotic (even though it contains candida) is because it has a way more complex micro-organism mix than any commercially available probiotic. I mean many, many times more different types.
Logically you should start after the end of the antibiotic treatment - or on the last day - because otherwise the antibiotic will kill the bacteria you just supplied them with in the priobiotic. But some advocate starting in parallel because the antibiotics don't kill all the bacteria in the probiotic.
I haven't seen any studies on duration (I haven't looked very hard) but there are studies in people that shows it takes a couple of months to restore gut flora after antibiotics. I don't think you need to take probiotics for all that time - because as I said, I think they work by making the environment better for the normal gut bacteria, not only by replacing them directly.
So, as usual, you are needing to apply some judgement in the face of only partial evidence. Here is what I would personally do in your situation:
- Start probiotics on the last day of antibiotic treatment
- Continue them for about a week maybe 10 days
- I would probably start with a commercially available probiotic supplement and then switch over to kefir (or add in Kefir) about half way along
I can't tell you that is perfect, but I am pretty confident it isn't harmful and has a high chance of helping.

Just following up to say the hens have been consuming both bird probiotics and kefir for almost 10 days. So I'll continue through the weekend then stop on Monday. I'll continue observing Jan's condition and if I think she's getting a little overgrowth of her bad bacteria again, I'll try another 10 days of probiotics before trundling her off to Dr Mark for more antibiotics.

Does that seem sensible?

 

[RoyalChick]

Just following up to say the hens have been consuming both bird probiotics and kefir for almost 10 days. So I'll continue through the weekend then stop on Monday. I'll continue observing Jan's condition and if I think she's getting a little overgrowth of her bad bacteria again, I'll try another 10 days of probiotics before trundling her off to Dr Mark for more antibiotics.

Does that seem sensible?

Not sure. Probiotics won’t do any harm. Sone people take them daily for life. In a way I do because I eat yoghurt and kefir on many days.
But I doubt they would cure an infection from some bad bacteria.
Rather than thinking of them as a medicine, it might be better to think of them as a supplement.
That way you would not wait for anyone to get sick, but rather give them regularly.
A Sunday treat maybe?

 

[RoyalChick]

Friday morning and I'm so ready for this roller coaster week to be over.

I've been leading a team of 21 people in teaching 350 people via 32 hours of classes in 4 days (Tuesday was a public holiday), while preparing for similar next week (except next week has 5 days), while chairing a national committee yesterday. No wonder there's a mild headache and a sense of having overlooked something.

Wow. That sounds intense.
Hopefully it is also somewhat rewarding. Maybe it will be in retrospect!
Meanwhile, hang in there.

 

[MaryJanet]

Not sure. Probiotics won’t do any harm. Sone people take them daily for life. In a way I do because I eat yoghurt and kefir on many days.
But I doubt they would cure an infection from some bad bacteria.
Rather than thinking of them as a medicine, it might be better to think of them as a supplement.
That way you would not wait for anyone to get sick, but rather give them regularly.
A Sunday treat maybe?

That makes sense. I'll do that.

Thank you.

 

[MaryJanet]

Wow. That sounds intense.
Hopefully it is also somewhat rewarding. Maybe it will be in retrospect!
Meanwhile, hang in there.

It's a lot to get through.

 

[LozzyR]

I have a question; with two boys, should I not be feeding everyone layer feed? I just saw a reel where a lady said she feeds her tribe grower feed (she has a rooster) and supplements oyster shell on the side. Will the layer pellets be bad for the boys’ kidneys?

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

I have a question; with two boys, should I not be feeding everyone layer feed? I just saw a reel where a lady said she feeds her tribe grower feed (she has a rooster) and supplements oyster shell on the side. Will the layer pellets be bad for the boys’ kidneys?

Theoretically the excess calcium in layer feed is bad for the boys. That said, I fed mine layer with no ill effects. I suppose its better to provide grower, if you can get it.

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening MJ everyone

 

[LozzyR]

Good evening folks


Theoretically the excess calcium in layer feed is bad for the boys. That said, I fed mine layer with no ill effects. I suppose its better to provide grower, if you can get it.

Thanks Bob. Naturally I just bought a big bag of layer feed, so I have heaps of it. Maybe I can buy some grower and mix it in.

 

[Shadrach]

I have a question; with two boys, should I not be feeding everyone layer feed? I just saw a reel where a lady said she feeds her tribe grower feed (she has a rooster) and supplements oyster shell on the side. Will the layer pellets be bad for the boys’ kidneys?

Yes. It's mainly an age related problem. Bit by bit the high calcium content in layers feed damages their kidneys. Hens store calcium in their legs. Roosters can't do this.