to raise chickens "naturally" or with the aid of conventional meds

[popcornpuppy]

I am curious to see how many people think chickens should be vaccinated and medicated to keep them healthy, and how many people think chickens should be raised in more of an organic fashion. (When I say organic, I mean feeding them non-medicated feed, fresh veggies and fruits, and giving them access to what they would scavenge for in nature.) I am rappidly losing faith in the world of conventional medicine. Everyday, I see pets of all kinds, shapes and sizes getting sick from food, vaccines and meds that are supposed to keep them healthy (and I see the same with people). Every medicine comercial that airs on tv has a massive list of side effects and cautions. How many people think we need to get back to basics with our pet care?
On the flip side of that question.........
How many people think the best form of care is through the use of vaccinations and meds? There is the old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pould of cure.
I wanted to word this post very carefully so that it does not set off a debate. I am new to the world of chickens. I have 12, 2 week old pullets for egg prodution and I am on the fence as to what is the best way to keep them healthy. Any and all opinions are welcomed to help me make my decision. I Thank You.

 

[gritsar]

I started my chicks out with medicated feed because I am aware of how quickly coccidiosis can take down a chick. I also exposed them to the soil early so their bodies could use the amprolium in the medicated feed to build an immunity to coccidiosis. I didn't have them vaccinated for anything.
Since that time they've lived what I feel is a very natural life. I provide them with layer feed, oyster shell and fresh water as well as protection from predators at night by locking them in a coop. Other than that they are free to roam and eat what they find. I interfere with their life as little as possible, other than giving each a quick lookover several times a week to catch any problems early. So far there have been none, other than a mild case of bumblefoot. I've had one hen die of a heart attack, but I doubt there was anything that could be done to prevent that.
Last summer (their first) I provided them with electrolytes in their water to help them cope, but so far this year they are doing just as well without the electrolytes.

 

[annek]

I like to keep things as natural as possible. However, when there are things available that will keep my chickens from dying a horrible death or helping to keep them healthy I certainly mean to take advantage of it. I will use commercial wormers on them, I feed them medicated feed with amporilum (I have seen how they drink water after someone poops in it and have cecal poop on their feet!) and if they get sick I have no problem giving them antibiotics or other lifesaving things. There is a reason why people live longer than we did hundreds of years ago and I am sure the same thing goes for livestock.

My .02.

 

[GardeNerd]

I got my day olds vaccinated for Mereks; I felt the risks around here for Mereks justified it. However, other than that, I fed my pullets organic stater/grower and now organic layer feed. The majority of the treats they get are organic too.

I have not needed to treat any problems yet, but if the time comes I will medicate as needed, starting with organic methods if possible. If it is necessary I will use conventional meds.

We only have a small backyard flock.

 

[Momo]

I think it's pretty apparent that all animals are happiest and healthiest when living as "natural" a lifestyle as possible. It's great to provide our chickens with fresh air, sunshine, room to roam and protection from predators, and let them "be chickens." Kept this way, they're usually pretty happy and successful.

However, I also think that we need to be cautious when advocating a natural lifestyle for ideological reasons because nature includes things like famine, disease, parasites, predation etc.

Over-vaccination can certainly be harmful but vaccines are not intrinsically negative. I mean, I'm pretty glad I've been rendered immune to polio and hepatitis B and various other nasty diseases. I think we tend to underestimate the positive power of vaccinations simply because - thanks to successful vaccination programs - we're no longer surrounded by the effects of serious communicable disease. Consider smallpox.

So, that being said, when I got my first chickens (30 adorable EE chicks), and spent every spare hour for many months building Cluckingham Palace for them, I didn't vaccinate because I didn't think it would be necessary. But as my chickies neared maturity, one by one they developed progressive paralysis and died. Three survived.

I now vaccinate all my chicks for Marek's. I don't vaccinate for anything else because there doesn't seem to be a need for it in my neck of the woods, at least so far. The Marek's vaccination is simply a way of introducing a related but harmless virus to the chicks' immune system. It allows the birds to fight off the "real" Marek's virus themselves, and that seems like a pretty natural way to handle disease (e.g. no drugs).

I know that it's common these days for people to express a loss of faith in our conventional medicine, and I think the reasons are very understandable. But please let's not paint that picture with too wide a brush. I work as an EMT and I know that meds really do have a place - both with respect to emergency medicine and also chronic conditions. I'm no fan of the pharmaceutical industry and I personally resist taking meds of any sort, but then I'm a generally healthy person. I just want to point out that there are an awful lot of people walking around today who would not be here without modern medications and procedures.

Alternative therapies can be really helpful, along with a healthy lifestyle, but let's face it - if you have Type I diabetes you need to take insulin or you are going to die, and if you get a blood clot in your brain you need clot-busting medications or a chunk of your brain is going to die and take some of you with it. A year ago my healthy, active 66 year-old father died from a massive bleed in his brain following many years of untreated high blood pressure. He simply refused to take medication to lower it. Most likely if he had taken the meds he would still be here today and for many years to come.

Well, sorry for the long post and the digression. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm all for a natural lifestyle and minimal intervention, but only as long as it actually *benefits* the animal.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
I like this post.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd suggest talking to your county extension office about diseases prevalent in your area and to get their recommendations for small flock owners. They know what is going on in your immediate area. For example, many of us don't worry about Marek's that much, but in areas where it is active, you need to vaccinate against it. By talking to my extension office, I found that there has been one case of reported Marek's in this county iin three years. You can find the phone number in the book under county government.

I do not do anything proactive as far as medicating mine, not even the medicated feed for cocci while they were in the brooder. I believe that you do not give any medication until it is needed, then you give it as appropriate. I don't want to be the one that helps develop the resistant varieties of disease causing bacteria or viruses. I have no problems whatever giving appropriate medication, but I believe you should know what you are treating before you start treating. Proper medication used properly saves lives.

editted to add:

I also believe the preventative medicines have their place, like the medicated feed for cocci. That is a personal decision, but know what you are doing. I have seen posts where someone thinks you can actually vaccinate against cocci.

My father's life was extended by many years due to medications and, until close to the end, quality of life was good. I do believe medications have their place, both reactive and preventative.