The Front Porch Swing

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Not born immune but are exposed to low levels of it through the mama and her feces in the broody pen or on the soils on which they are living and can build immunities easily in that manner. The first two weeks are the best times for their immune system to form antibodies to the existing levels in the coops/runs/soils, so getting them onto those early is pretty crucial if one wants a naturally strong immune system.

That's why so many who feed the medicated feed, keep their chicks indoors until they are around 4-8 wks, then expose them to the flock wind up with really bad coccidiosis in the chicks. I can't tell you how many threads I've seen on here where folks say they fed medicated feeds and still got coccidia in the flock.

I've never fed medicated feeds...they are pretty worthless for disease control, as the commercial industry has shown.

 

[Triple Willow]

Not born immune but are exposed to low levels of it through the mama and her feces in the broody pen or on the soils on which they are living and can build immunities easily in that manner.  The first two weeks are the best times for their immune system to form antibodies to the existing levels in the coops/runs/soils, so getting them onto those early is pretty crucial if one wants a naturally strong immune system. 

That's why so many who feed the medicated feed, keep their chicks indoors until they are around 4-8 wks, then expose them to the flock wind up with really bad coccidiosis in the chicks.  I can't tell you how many threads I've seen on here where folks say they fed medicated feeds and still got coccidia in the flock.

I've never fed medicated feeds...they are pretty worthless for disease control, as the commercial industry has shown.

From my understanding the only medication in medicated starter is a thiamin blocker (amprolium). Cocci has to have thiamin to grow. I believe the "trick" is that the birds have to be exposed to the cocci while on the medicated feed so they can be building up the immunity while on the feed. While on the feed if they aren't exposed to cocci there is no way to be building an immunity. All I know is what I went through with my birds. Shoot when something like that happens you don't even want to tell anybody because you feel like people want to "shame you" over it. So I have come out of the closet! LOL

 

[Beekissed]

From my understanding the only medication in medicated starter is a thiamin blocker (amprolium). Cocci has to have thiamin to grow. I believe the "trick" is that the birds have to be exposed to the cocci while on the medicated feed so they can be building up the immunity while on the feed. While on the feed if they aren't exposed to cocci there is no way to be building an immunity. All I know is what I went through with my birds. Shoot when something like that happens you don't even want to tell anybody because you feel like people want to "shame you" over it. So I have come out of the closet! LOL

It's not shame at all for having illness in farm animals. There is only shame in not learning from it and trying to prevent it the next time, which is what you are doing, TW....trying is all anyone can do. Most folks are not doing that...they just wait until the next time and use the meds they used the first time.

I'm a little more harsh in my approach to chicks....I want them to have full exposure to all the environmental pathogens from day one, so I brood right on the coop litter that has been building for a long time. I'm not interested in saving any that become sick over that...those are the ones that would not be healthy and long lived birds anyway. But, I'm the minority in that approach and of that I am well aware, but it's worked since the beginning of time and I'll use it until I'm gone.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

It's not shame at all for having illness in farm animals. There is only shame in not learning from it and trying to prevent it the next time, which is what you are doing, TW....trying is all anyone can do. Most folks are not doing that...they just wait until the next time and use the meds they used the first time.

I'm a little more harsh in my approach to chicks....I want them to have full exposure to all the environmental pathogens from day one, so I brood right on the coop litter that has been building for a long time. I'm not interested in saving any that become sick over that...those are the ones that would not be healthy and long lived birds anyway. But, I'm the minority in that approach and of that I am well aware, but it's worked since the beginning of time and I'll use it until I'm gone.

I hope I never have to brood chicks indoors ever again. I hope I never have to hatch chicks "mechanically" either. The first time I saw broody hatched chicks running all over the coop in the middle of winter I had a big light-bulb moment. Any lingering doubts have been swept away by Freedom Hen and her brood of 17 super active & self-suficient Freedom Mutts.

Silly Humans! Chicks are for Hens!

If at all possible, that is.

Yes, people in town who have a maximum of 3, 4 or 5 HENS are likely to crave a more hands-on approach to raising chicks, but the thrill of having birds in the house wears thin for most people pretty fast. And the heartbreak of the hand-raised contraband cockerel is real ...

 

[Beekissed]

Yes, indeedy. For most of the folks on BYC, I'm afraid that raising chickens is just another pet project or hobby...and then the shock hits them that they are actually raising farm animals, with all that that entails. Farming is not for the faint of heart, even on a tiny scale and even if done as a hobby. Farming and killing/death go hand in hand.

 

[Triple Willow]

It's not shame at all for having illness in farm animals.  There is only shame in not learning from it and trying to prevent it the next time, which is what you are doing, TW....trying is all anyone can do.  Most folks are not doing that...they just wait until the next time and use the meds they used the first time. 

I'm a little more harsh in my approach to chicks....I want them to have full exposure to all the environmental pathogens from day one, so I brood right on the coop litter that has been building for a long time.  I'm not interested in saving any that become sick over that...those are the ones that would not be healthy and long lived birds anyway.   But, I'm the minority in that approach and of that I am well aware, but it's worked since the beginning of time and I'll use it until I'm gone.   

I agree, I'm not going to make it a habit of spending my days babying a bunch of puny animals. Around here it is either be pretty tough or you might not last real long. I have enough drama as is! lol From what I got from the vet (who had to look most everything up), cocci will live in the soil for years and years. The only way to kill it is ammonia, fire or freezing. I hope all that freezing weather we had last winter killed it or at least put a big dent in it. For the time being I give chicks that are brought in a chance to get an immunity built up by using the medicated starter. After that they all seem to have strong immune systems and do fine. As far as antibiotics, dewormers, and the rest of the medications, I have never used them and I hope I am never in a position to even have to consider using them! You are right, getting the strongest immune system possible built up is the answer and yep, culling the weak.

That CX I had that was having mobility problems straightened up. I don't know, he must have gotten roughed up or injured somehow. Now I can't tell which one it was. They are all still running, jumping and flying everywhere they go.

 

[Triple Willow]

@Leslie... I sooo agree with you! I don't like chicks in the house... or the garage or anywhere else except with a broody. That cute wears off pretty quick with me. About that second week I start thinking "Yeah you were a cute baby - now go lay some eggs!!!"

 

[Triple Willow]

Yes, indeedy.  For most of the folks on BYC, I'm afraid that raising chickens is just another pet project or hobby...and then the shock hits them that they are actually raising farm animals, with all that that entails.  Farming is not for the faint of heart, even on a tiny scale and even if done as a hobby.  Farming and killing/death go hand in hand. 

Very true!

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I hope I never have to brood chicks indoors ever again. I hope I never have to hatch chicks "mechanically" either. The first time I saw broody hatched chicks running all over the coop in the middle of winter I had a big light-bulb moment. Any lingering doubts have been swept away by Freedom Hen and her brood of 17 super active & self-suficient Freedom Mutts. 

Silly Humans! Chicks are for Hens!

If at all possible, that is.

Yes, people in town who have a maximum of 3, 4 or 5 HENS are likely to crave a more hands-on approach to raising chicks, but the thrill of having birds in the house wears thin for most people pretty fast. And the heartbreak of the hand-raised contraband cockerel is real ...

Some clever scientist futurist type of person should come up with a way to sex eggs.

 

[LindaB220]

Some clever scientist futurist type of person should come up with a way to sex eggs.

x2 Wouldn't that be great?