Query

[Christine12]

My 9 silkie chicks are 4 weeks old in a few days, they are doing well, on their starter chick feed and get a few treats here and there. I have read some people give them a sod of grass and soil but I also read this may give them coccidiosis. I understand they will come into contact with it sooner or later and it may be best they expose their immune systems to it earlier? However being an anxious chicken mum and a newbie at that, can anybody confirm time that propolis and garlic liquid if given now will help boost their immune system. Somebody has told me this but I am unsure. Should I also have corid liquid in hand in case? Thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have read some people give them a sod of grass and soil but I also read this may give them coccidiosis. I understand they will come into contact with it sooner or later and it may be best they expose their immune systems to it earlier?

I like to give brooder raised chick a mix of soil and sod to pick through, especially sifted soil from the runs they will be living in. This can expose them early in life to different pathogens, coccidia, etc. and I feel it helps them build resistance.

Do some reading about Coccidiosis. Coccidia is a protozoa found in soil and in poop. Your chicks already have Coccidia. It's when there is an overload in their system that it becomes a problem. Warm, damp brooders or water stations that have poop in them are a good breeding environment for the oocysts. Chicks do need exposure - they eat poop - yes, I said it, they eat their own and each other's poop. Chicks build resistance to what they encounter, often they are fine in the brooder, but when put on ground they are exposed to a different strain (there are 9 strains) and can become overloaded since they have no resistance.

Should I also have corid liquid in hand in case?

It's always a good idea to have Corid on hand if you have chicks.

can anybody confirm time that propolis and garlic liquid if given now will help boost their immune system

Hopefully someone else will chime in to answer these questions. I have never used these so can't say one way or another.
Fresh feed that has a recent mill date, fresh water, clean dry bedding and clean water/food stations go a long way in keeping birds healthy.