Q on Electrolytes and Chick Boost

[WilderSkye]

Why on earth would Flock Pro say you need to give Chick Boost for first 8 weeks? That seems excessive on electrolytes. I gave Chick Boost first 4 days, plain water a day, and yesterday mixed up some Probiotic packet from Purina I got at TS.

Do I need to do plain waterer in addition? Am I right on electrolytes? I am a retired RN, and also endurance raced my Arabians and was an ultra runner. I know from humans and horses you wouldn't want to do electrolytes that much.

 

[nuthatched]

Who/what is flock pro?
Most people only give water supplements after trauma, high heat or shipping

 

[BDutch]

Why on earth would Flock Pro say you need to give Chick Boost for first 8 weeks?

Marketing/sell more. ?
A lot of things get sold that are completely useless.

 

[WilderSkye]

Who/what is flock pro?
Most people only give water supplements after trauma, high heat or shipping

I got it from Big R here in town. The chicks were shipped to us which is why we started with the Chick Boost. I switched to the Purina Probiotics yesterday after a day of our pure well water, 400' deep aquifer well, and all we have for water source, cleaner than any filtered water so no tummy worries. Poops are all normal. Should I just keep doing the probiotics?

 

[nuthatched]

I got it from Big R here in town. The chicks were shipped to us which is why we started with the Chick Boost. I switched to the Purina Probiotics yesterday after a day of our pure well water, 400' deep aquifer well, and all we have for water source, cleaner than any filtered water so no tummy worries. Poops are all normal. Should I just keep doing the probiotics?View attachment 4146623

Probiotics are useful for preventing pasty butt but I've personally never used them since I use a low heat brooder.
Vitamins are always handy, but with any water supplements, you need a waterer of clean, plain water also and to stop after a week.

 

[WilderSkye]

Probiotics are useful for preventing pasty butt but I've personally never used them since I use a low heat brooder.
Vitamins are always handy, but with any water supplements, you need a waterer of clean, plain water also and to stop after a week.

Thank you. I feel like I am on the right track. So far pasty butt has been minimal on one chick and resolved in a day, she is so tiny I think she may have just sat in it.

Today they are moving to the outside brooder. The only reason we had them in the bathroom, all over the floor, lol, was we had a run of tornadic weather when they arrived. We will all be thrilled to see them in their new abode. I got them a week ago. They are super curious and active so will loved the digs. Lucky for them the worm bin is nearby, so treats come easy. They go nuts over the worms.

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you. I feel like I am on the right track. So far pasty butt has been minimal on one chick and resolved in a day, she is so tiny I think she may have just sat in it.

Today they are moving to the outside brooder. The only reason we had them in the bathroom, all over the floor, lol, was we had a run of tornadic weather when they arrived. We will all be thrilled to see them in their new abode. I got them a week ago. They are super curious and active so will loved the digs. Lucky for them the worm bin is nearby, so treats come easy. They go nuts over the worms.

Make sure you provide a little grit if they're eating anything except chick feed.

 

[BDutch]

I got it from Big R here in town. The chicks were shipped to us which is why we started with the Chick Boost. I switched to the Purina Probiotics yesterday after a day of our pure well water, 400' deep aquifer well, and all we have for water source, cleaner than any filtered water so no tummy worries. Poops are all normal. Should I just keep doing the probiotics?View attachment 4146623

I wouldn’t do so. (Never had incubator chicks myself). It’s up to you what you want to spend. I rather spend more on organic feed.

My chickens get some leftover plain natural yoghurt every now and then.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I got it from Big R here in town. The chicks were shipped to us which is why we started with the Chick Boost. I switched to the Purina Probiotics yesterday after a day of our pure well water, 400' deep aquifer well, and all we have for water source, cleaner than any filtered water so no tummy worries. Poops are all normal. Should I just keep doing the probiotics?View attachment 4146623

You don't need to. I only give probiotics after getting my chicks, if they are sick/not feeling well, or on hot days. I just do a little mix of electrolytes, probiotics, and liquid vitamins in the water.

 

[WilderSkye]

Thank you everyone. I have them on Scratch and Peck dry, and fermented wet to help the smaller ones. I did just moistened yesterday and they like that. I also have Scratch and Peck chick grit and they are using it. They seem to be selecting all the above.

I ferment all kinds of things. On hand right now I have water kefir, milk kefir, and l reuteri yogurt. As summer ramps up I will be making kimchi, sauerkraut, everything imaginable. So homemade probiotics I think actually are better.