Question about letting chickens free range were meat birds were

[momofchicks]

We built two movable tractors for our meat birds and of course they made a mess everywhere they went. Well, my question is, if they had cocci and if I let my laying hens out to free range could they get sick from the meat birds cocci even though they have been gone for a few days and the temperature outside has dropped significantly. Could the cold weather kill the cocci if they had it? I am just a little nervous to let my reg chickens out to free range now. What do you think?
Thanks.

 

[houndit]

We run all our birds together. Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, and broilers. We have not had a problem. If your meat birds did have a problem they might get it. If your broilers are on pasture they will not usually get it. Are chickens seldom goover the meat bird area because they make such a mess. They should be fine.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I did meat bird this last spring. I will probably not do this agian. My word they are such a mess, such a problem with food and water and you HAVE to cull them at 8 to 10 weeks. If you go beyond this, they tend to die from heart attacks, broken bones, pulled ligaments and they are very susceptable to heat. I love my Cochins and i have 4 hens and 1 roo. They are very much different from the meat crosses. I also have 5 plymouth rock whites and they are great little hens and the roo is gorgeous. Of course there are the leghorns and the roo who is "The chiciken" of the flock. But cross them and darn !!

 

[jnjross]

cocci is very welll hard to kill, it can infect a brooder box for a year so,, i'd run over that area with the mower and spray a bleach mix

 

[mtnhomechick]

Quote:
I agree. I did nothing but clean poop and wash chickens. I could hardly keep up and the smell was awful.

I woldn't mind trying freedom rangers though. At least the mess won't be inside a closed run.