Tell me your coccidiosis routine for outdoor chicks

[clickchicks]

Chicks are turning 6 weeks old this week. I've been taking them outside for a little bit each day to get them used to it, and the weather here is nice enough they can stay outside for most of the day when its not raining.

I have a small chicken tractor I'm using right now, away from my adult birds. I'd really like to move the whole thing into the big bird's run and start acclimating them.

I had a fecal done for the adults a while back, very small amounts of eimeria/coccidiosis which I was told is totally normal. BUT, what should I do about the chicks?

They've been on grass, so I'm sure they've already been exposed. I did two treatment doses on the chicks several weeks ago when one of the chicks was sick, but this was before they started going outside. So they've had Corid twice now.

Would doing another treatment when I put them in the adult's run be overkill?

 

[coach723]

I never treat unless needed. When I'm raising chicks I provide a dish (large plant saucer) of dirt from outside every day in the brooder for them to scratch, peck, and dirt bathe in from the beginning. So they are exposed to the microbes in the soil from day one and have the opportunity to build immunity. The saucer makes it easy to dump, clean and give new dirt every day. I've not had an outbreak of coccidiosis since doing this with my brooder batches of chicks. Low exposure so that they build immunity without becoming ill is the best way to prevent outbreaks. I do keep Corid on hand in the event I see symptoms. But I don't treat unless I see symptoms. I put my last batch outside at 5 weeks, they are now 7 weeks and starting to integrate, I've had no issues. They have been on the ground with the big birds for 2 weeks. Likely yours have been exposed enough that they will be OK. Just watch for symptoms and treat if necessary.