New with some questions

[pennyJo1960]

They get so use to being with medication in their feed will not help when they do need it over medicated is as dangerous as illness JMHO 55 years experience

 

[so lucky]

I read in some chicken article, maybe on this forum, that if you start off with unmedicated food, you should not switch to medicated. Keep with what you started with.
As far as the grit is concerned, it is said that chicks raised with hens outside will get the grit they need from the soil. Perhaps not if the soil is straight clay, but if you are in high desert it is probably sand. The regular chicken grit you buy is large pieces and too big for a chick. You can buy special chick grit, but don't get a large container of it because you won't need it long. The chicks will probably go after it like it is gourmet food, but don't worry, if they eat too much they will just have sandy poop for a while. Lol.
I like to dig up a clump of soil and grass and put it in their brooder every few days. You could put it on a pie pan to keep them from making too big a mess. The chicks absolutely love it and they will eat some of the soil, any tiny bugs they find, the grass , the roots, etc. It is so cute to see week old chicks scratching and pecking like an old lady chicken.

 

[SmallCityChicken]

They get so use to being with medication in their feed will not help when they do need it over medicated is as dangerous as illness JMHO 55 years experience

Oh ok I see what you mean, yes that makes sense. I think I will end up giving them the unmediated I already purchased & have some of the Corid someone else mentioned on hand in case the situation ever arises.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Not true. Medicated feed is like a vaccine for baby chickens. You give it while they are young, and then it helps prepare them for Coccidia once they are older and makes them better able to fight it off.

This is because Coccidia is deadly to chicks and can kill them in just a couple days.

I would buy one of the small bags of medicated feed and give it to them for the next couple weeks and then you’ll be good. Keep the corid though just in case.

If their feathers start to fluff up and they look sick, or if you notice blood in their poop, you can add the corid to their water supply to treat them.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I whole hearted disagree @TwoChicksChix medicated feed is dangerous in my view, knowledge and personal experience I stand by my statement prior

 

[SmallCityChicken]

Not true. Medicated feed is like a vaccine for baby chickens. You give it while they are young, and then it helps prepare them for Coccidia once they are older and makes them better able to fight it off.

This is because Coccidia is deadly to chicks and can kill them in just a couple days.

I would buy one of the small bags of medicated feed and give it to them for the next couple weeks and then you’ll be good. Keep the corid though just in case.

If their feathers start to fluff up and they look sick, or if you notice blood in their poop, you can add the corid to their water supply to treat them.

I am just confused at this point. Buy the medicated & keep them on it for a month? I just spoke with the place I purchased them & the animal health employee said they feed medicated but finishing the unmediated would be fine before starting the new. I also asked about possibly mixing them & she said she hasn't tried it but didn't see why I couldn't?

 

[SmallCityChicken]

I read in some chicken article, maybe on this forum, that if you start off with unmedicated food, you should not switch to medicated. Keep with what you started with.
As far as the grit is concerned, it is said that chicks raised with hens outside will get the grit they need from the soil. Perhaps not if the soil is straight clay, but if you are in high desert it is probably sand. The regular chicken grit you buy is large pieces and too big for a chick. You can buy special chick grit, but don't get a large container of it because you won't need it long. The chicks will probably go after it like it is gourmet food, but don't worry, if they eat too much they will just have sandy poop for a while. Lol.
I like to dig up a clump of soil and grass and put it in their brooder every few days. You could put it on a pie pan to keep them from making too big a mess. The chicks absolutely love it and they will eat some of the soil, any tiny bugs they find, the grass , the roots, etc. It is so cute to see week old chicks scratching and pecking like an old lady chicken.

Yes our soil is mainly sand & volcanic ash unfortunately, my front yard appears to have had the soil replaced with actual top soil but not the back.
We have a pile of sand sitting to the side from my daughters sand box that I assume they will love once they can go out, my husband suggested giving them some of it as grit but I am not sure about that.

 

[so lucky]

There are differing opinions on this. Some would caution that wild birds may have contaminated it from their droppings. It might work to heat some of that sand in your oven or toaster oven for 15 minutes or so; that should kill off any ordinary bacteria or bad critters. Any one else have thoughts on this?

 

[SmallCityChicken]

There are differing opinions on this. Some would caution that wild birds may have contaminated it from their droppings. It might work to heat some of that sand in your oven or toaster oven for 15 minutes or so; that should kill off any ordinary bacteria or bad critters. Any one else have thoughts on this?

I could do that, the reason I am hesitant is because it is 'Play Sand' & when we first put it in her sand box it was very, very dusty. That was a few months & a rain storm ago though.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

I disagree with you for the same reasons, we did studies on this in my immunology class at college. When the chicks we tested with were started on medicated feed, they were significantly less likely to develop coccidiosis once let outside into the environment. And those that did develop it had better chances of living and fought it off quicker than those who had not been started on medicated.

Of course it’s each persons choice whether they medicated or not. Just make sure you have corid on you just in case they do develop it. That’s just my two cents.

Base line is, every chicken is going to get coccidiosis at some point. It’s basically impossible to keep them from it their whole lives. So be prepared Incase they get sick.