Questions about a little time outside...

[Bluegrasschicken]

If i put my unmedicated feed chicks out for 5-10 minutes (super warm day) am I risking Coccidiosis? Is there more risk at a younger age than if I waited longer for any play time (like a more mature immune system?) Also, will they peck at things that require chick grit? I have some but have started them on it yet. Do I mix with feed or feed seperately? Thank you!

 

[chickenlittle21]

You can let your chicks roam around anytime when your watching them. You are not risking coccidiosis. Yes, I would give the chicks chick grit. Give the grit in a separate feeder.

 

[Justso]

You can let your chicks roam around anytime when your watching them. You are not risking coccidiosis. Yes, I would give the chicks chick grit. Give the grit in a separate feeder.

X2. If you have other chickens around, then your risk of coccidiosis goes up. I was lucky to have a neighbor with corid on hand when I had trouble with my flock in the past, it's not a bad thing to have on hand just in case if it's not readily available to you in your area.

 

[Bluegrasschicken]

X2. If you have other chickens around, then your risk of coccidiosis goes up. I was lucky to have a neighbor with corid on hand when I had trouble with my flock in the past, it's not a bad thing to have on hand just in case if it's not readily available to you in your area.

No other chickens although plenty of wild birds! Is this what I should have on hand? https://www.amazon.com/CORID-Multi-...dchild=1&keywords=corid&qid=1588514768&sr=8-7

 

[Bluegrasschicken]

Also silly question - if i put the grit in another container, will the chicks know it's not feed? I don't want them to eat the grit like it is feed and not get enough caloriese/nutrition!

 

[chickenlittle21]

Also silly question - if i put the grit in another container, will the chicks know it's not feed? I don't want them to eat the grit like it is feed and not get enough caloriese/nutrition!

If you see the chicks eating to much chick grit you can give it to them in small portions but otherwise you should be fine.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If i put my unmedicated feed chicks out for 5-10 minutes (super warm day) am I risking Coccidiosis?

Do you leave your brooder wet or water with chick manure in it for days on end? If yes, then you would be risking Cocci. If you keep the brooder pretty dry and the water fresh, not really.

Is there more risk at a younger age than if I waited longer for any play time (like a more mature immune system?)

Some people argue the opposite, that they are more resistant at a very young age than later. I personally don't think age makes any difference.

Perhaps an understanding of Cocci would help. The bug (actually a protozoa) that causes Cocci can be in your ground. If they are exposed to that bug for two to three weeks they develop an immunity to that strain of Cocci. They can develop that immunity starting immediately after hatch, they can develop that immunity months later if that is when they are exposed to it. Having some of that bug in their system isn't a problem, it's a good thing as it helps them develop immunity. The problem comes when the numbers of that bug get out of control, the sheer numbers overwhelm their system.

That bug thrives in wet conditions with manure present, like a wet brooder or dirty water. The general reproductive cycle of that bug is that they produce oocysts (think if them as eggs) that pass through the digestive system and out the rear end. Those eggs thrive in wet manure conditions. After a couple of days of development if the chick then eats that oocyst it can "hatch" inside the chick. Usually in dry conditions the chicken will not eat enough to cause a problem, that many just don't develop. But in wet conditions they may eat enough that the numbers explode, which can be deadly. So if you keep the brooder dry and water clean it is hardly ever a problem. And if you give them a continuing supply of a small amount of those oocysts they have immunity later so even if the weather turns wet when you let them out in their run for good they have immunity.

Immunity to one strain of Cocci does not give them immunity to all strains. You need to learn the signs of Cocci and be alert no matter how old they are. Your soil may not have any strains of Cocci bugs in it. But letting them peck at it and keeping the brooder dry and water clean can really strengthen their immune system against the strain of Cocci you have in your dirt, if you have any.

Also, will they peck at things that require chick grit?

If your soil has any small rocks in it they will get their own chick grit as they peck. I've never bought chick grit but let mine get their own. Yes, they will eat things that requires grit to be ground up in their gizzard if you give them the opportunity. Does your bag of chick grit have any instructions on how to feed it? If so, follow those. Personally I'd never mix it with their feed but offer a small amount on the side. Or you can scatter a little on the soil where you take them outside. They will get it.

 

[Bluegrasschicken]

If i put my unmedicated feed chicks out for 5-10 minutes (super warm day) am I risking Coccidiosis?

Do you leave your brooder wet or water with chick manure in it for days on end? If yes, then you would be risking Cocci. If you keep the brooder pretty dry and the water fresh, not really.

Is there more risk at a younger age than if I waited longer for any play time (like a more mature immune system?)

Some people argue the opposite, that they are more resistant at a very young age than later. I personally don't think age makes any difference.

Perhaps an understanding of Cocci would help. The bug (actually a protozoa) that causes Cocci can be in your ground. If they are exposed to that bug for two to three weeks they develop an immunity to that strain of Cocci. They can develop that immunity starting immediately after hatch, they can develop that immunity months later if that is when they are exposed to it. Having some of that bug in their system isn't a problem, it's a good thing as it helps them develop immunity. The problem comes when the numbers of that bug get out of control, the sheer numbers overwhelm their system.

That bug thrives in wet conditions with manure present, like a wet brooder or dirty water. The general reproductive cycle of that bug is that they produce oocysts (think if them as eggs) that pass through the digestive system and out the rear end. Those eggs thrive in wet manure conditions. After a couple of days of development if the chick then eats that oocyst it can "hatch" inside the chick. Usually in dry conditions the chicken will not eat enough to cause a problem, that many just don't develop. But in wet conditions they may eat enough that the numbers explode, which can be deadly. So if you keep the brooder dry and water clean it is hardly ever a problem. And if you give them a continuing supply of a small amount of those oocysts they have immunity later so even if the weather turns wet when you let them out in their run for good they have immunity.

Immunity to one strain of Cocci does not give them immunity to all strains. You need to learn the signs of Cocci and be alert no matter how old they are. Your soil may not have any strains of Cocci bugs in it. But letting them peck at it and keeping the brooder dry and water clean can really strengthen their immune system against the strain of Cocci you have in your dirt, if you have any.

Also, will they peck at things that require chick grit?

If your soil has any small rocks in it they will get their own chick grit as they peck. I've never bought chick grit but let mine get their own. Yes, they will eat things that requires grit to be ground up in their gizzard if you give them the opportunity. Does your bag of chick grit have any instructions on how to feed it? If so, follow those. Personally I'd never mix it with their feed but offer a small amount on the side. Or you can scatter a little on the soil where you take them outside. They will get it.

Thank you! So my brooder is a cardboard box with pine shavings and 7 chicks. My understanding is that Cocci is from the soil so they would not be exposed in my brooder? Or I could be totally wrong....is it always present in their system even if sent on hatch day in the mail?

 

[Ridgerunner]

They will not arrive with any of the bugs that can cause Cocci. Hatcheries practice extremely good biosecurity. They will not be exposed in the brooder unless you expose them. That's why I feed mine some dirt from the run starting n day 2 or 3 in the brooder so they can start working on their immunity. To protect mine so they have immunity when they permanently go outside I purposely expose them.

 

[Bluegrasschicken]

They will not arrive with any of the bugs that can cause Cocci. Hatcheries practice extremely good biosecurity. They will not be exposed in the brooder unless you expose them. That's why I feed mine some dirt from the run starting n day 2 or 3 in the brooder so they can start working on their immunity. To protect mine so they have immunity when they permanently go outside I purposely expose them.

Ok that is what I thought. Instead of bringing the dirt in, can I just take them outside for a bit during the day (longer periods as they get older). Or is that not enough exposure?