Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[CarolynF]

 
what's MG    ?

I had to do a search.....  Here is what I found....  I do not know if that is what the poster was talking about though..... 

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...mycoplasma-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-crd

Would be nice if folks would spell out what the acronyms were, once, at the start of the post, for us irritating, PITA newbies...   ...  thanks much..   Dave

Thanks Dave. And don't be afraid to remind me personally!!!

 

[CarolynF]

Thanks Lutefisk, that's the direction I'm planning, though I was super nervous with my girls last time and used the medicated as well as vinegar. Any advice for the rain? I have a fairly large coop, and we are creating a large (50x30) covered run. The climate is so totally opposite from Utah, so it will definitely be different.

Ours are free in a 3/4 acre fenced back yard and they are fine with rain or snow. Their coop is a 4x8 tractor. They tend to sleep in if there is snow on the ground and will keep under eaves or trees or bushes during downpours or hail but otherwise don't seem to mind getting wet. They do appreciate a dry place to dust bathe, which is provided by an infrequently used utility trailer which is always dry underneath.

Hi and welcome to the wet side of Washington!
Coccidiosis is probably the main reason for using medicated feed. I'm not an expert so please do more research. As I understand it chicks tend to get it from the soil. They gain resistance as they mature but even adults can get it. It is fast acting and deadly if not treated. A majority of people seem to use Corrid to treat. There are people on both sides of the discussion, so you'll have to listen to their arguments and decide for yourself. I have Corrid on hand to treat if needed. And I use sand in the brooder when they are small to hopefully build their immunity before putting them outside.

Rather than having eggs shipped, you might want to check out local sources. On March 15 there is a poultry show in Monroe and you'll be able to buy hatching eggs there. I find the shows to be a lot of fun even though I don't show. Breeders that show will often have eggs for purchase even if they don't have them at the show, so be sure to ask around.

 

[Cloudseeker]

On March 15 there is a poultry show in Monroe and you'll be able to buy hatching eggs there. I find the shows to be a lot of fun even though I don't show. Breeders that show will often have eggs for purchase even if they don't have them at the show, so be sure to ask around.

I think this show is going to be dangerous for me....... I will have an almost empty incubator by then!

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
That's half the fun! Hope to see you there!

 

[lisa1hess]

Rain? ................ Oh, you mean that liquid sunshine that turns my chicken yard into a sticky mess, right?     As long as my chix have a dry place to roost they don't seem to mind it..... although I don't get anywhere near as many eggs after several wet days as I should! The good thing about the cold weather is that the mud freezes, so there is no slip sliding in the chix yard!

Hi Cloudseeker!
Do you use anything in your chicken yard to absorb the "stickiness"?? I am fearful for that coming mess!! In Utah, we had lots of worries with weather extremes and winds....here, it's just a new set of challenges to overcome!! The home we moved into had a chicken coop and greenhouse built together, it's pretty decent sized should they choose to hang out inside. I don't feel safe free ranging here with all the critters around (we've seen several raccoons, opossum and coyotes)....but we have fenced the yard in, and then we have a separate garden area fenced again for the run.

 

[lisa1hess]

Hi and welcome to the wet side of Washington!
Coccidiosis is probably the main reason for using medicated feed. I'm not an expert so please do more research. As I understand it chicks tend to get it from the soil. They gain resistance as they mature but even adults can get it. It is fast acting and deadly if not treated. A majority of people seem to use Corrid to treat. There are people on both sides of the discussion, so you'll have to listen to their arguments and decide for yourself. I have Corrid on hand to treat if needed. And I use sand in the brooder when they are small to hopefully build their immunity before putting them outside.

Rather than having eggs shipped, you might want to check out local sources. On March 15 there is a poultry show in Monroe and you'll be able to buy hatching eggs there. I find the shows to be a lot of fun even though I don't show. Breeders that show will often have eggs for purchase even if they don't have them at the show, so be sure to ask around.

Great information, thanks so much for sharing!! I have gone back and forth with several things such as medicated vs non medicated and people tend to be very passionate in their choices. The same with sand vs pine shavings in the coop. I've seen several heated arguments as to which is the best to use!! I actually used both, I had pine shavings in the coop and sand in the run. In Utah, my chickens were able to free range, I had a fenced acre....though they left the fence area and visited all over including the neighbors! I have far too many predators for that here, so I will have a large 30x50 ft covered run for them. The local wilco had most of the breeds I was hoping for, hoping to start with just pullets....but I Love the idea of the show!!

 

[Hinotori]

Quote: Hi and welcome to the wet side of Washington!
Coccidiosis is probably the main reason for using medicated feed. I'm not an expert so please do more research. As I understand it chicks tend to get it from the soil. They gain resistance as they mature but even adults can get it. It is fast acting and deadly if not treated. A majority of people seem to use Corrid to treat. There are people on both sides of the discussion, so you'll have to listen to their arguments and decide for yourself. I have Corrid on hand to treat if needed. And I use sand in the brooder when they are small to hopefully build their immunity before putting them outside.

Rather than having eggs shipped, you might want to check out local sources. On March 15 there is a poultry show in Monroe and you'll be able to buy hatching eggs there. I find the shows to be a lot of fun even though I don't show. Breeders that show will often have eggs for purchase even if they don't have them at the show, so be sure to ask around.


You're correct. It's amprolium. Medicated helps keep the chicks from being overwelmed while they build up a resistance to cocci. My chicks are out with their broody mama and I just feed everyone an all flock food.

 

[Hinotori]

I use straw, hay, grass, and bark in my run. Usually straw because it's cheap because it lasts about a month or two. We're in a low spot so we get lots of standing water. The coop is in a high spot and the soil has built up over the last few years in the run.

 

[Lutefisk]

Our coop is floorless so we only need bedding in the nest boxes, and in the brooder when there are chicks. Pine shavings for both. A bale lasts us over a year for 5-12 chickens.

 

[1TurkenLover]