WHAT YA GOT SWAP Chat Thread

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Also, if you know anyone with a dairy cow, try to get some raw milk. It contains antibodies to fight many of the soil-born diseases. I use kefir with my chicks (cultured milk). I can send you some starter, but it would take a couple of weeks as I haven't made any lately and my grains are in the frig. There are several posts about using kefir on BYC if you search. Also, look into Oxine instead of bleach - supposed to be more effective. Again, many threads on BYC to check out. Good luck!
 
Quote: What she said!
old.gif
Also, if you know anyone with a dairy cow, try to get some raw milk. It contains antibodies to fight many of the soil-born diseases. I use kefir with my chicks (cultured milk). I can send you some starter, but it would take a couple of weeks as I haven't made any lately and my grains are in the frig. There are several posts about using kefir on BYC if you search. Also, look into Oxine instead of bleach - supposed to be more effective. Again, many threads on BYC to check out. Good luck!
Now you got my attention!!! I have a local dairy that I trade eggs for raw milk.. Are you saying if I gave this to the chicks, I would no longer have to treat with medications....I always treat young chicks when first put outside, sure would be nice to eliminate this. How about older hen's how much dairy is safe? I have been buying yogurt for them, but sounds like I have had what I needed the whole time
 
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Thank you everyone! Now I am trying to find a babysitter so I can get to the worlds most thorough cleaning on my coop! I am going to try all of your suggestions, I really appreciate it.
 
Quote: What she said!
old.gif
Also, if you know anyone with a dairy cow, try to get some raw milk. It contains antibodies to fight many of the soil-born diseases. I use kefir with my chicks (cultured milk). I can send you some starter, but it would take a couple of weeks as I haven't made any lately and my grains are in the frig. There are several posts about using kefir on BYC if you search. Also, look into Oxine instead of bleach - supposed to be more effective. Again, many threads on BYC to check out. Good luck!
Now you got my attention!!! I have a local dairy that I trade eggs for raw milk.. Are you saying if I gave this to the chicks, I would no longer have to treat with medications....I always treat young chicks when first put outside, sure would be nice to eliminate this. How about older hen's how much dairy is safe? I have been buying yogurt for them, but sounds like I have had what I needed the whole time
Well, I am not an expert on the matter, but I don't use medicated feed anymore. It seems I had more problems when I did. I do like to treat my chickens to kefir once in a while (made from raw milk). It is filled with probiotics - something like 40 -50 beneficials as compared to 4 or 5 in a really good yogurt. Also, kefir has beneficial yeasts as well as bacteria. My friend just uses the raw milk for her chickens and she has been raising them for many years. I know some recommend dairy no more than once a week, but my chickens LOVE it and will eat it whenever I offer it. When I have extra kefir, they get it a couple times a week, usually mixed with alfalfa, kelp meal and whatever other goodies I have around.
 
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The only time I have EVER used medicated feed is if non-medicated is not available. Believe it or not, NOBODY in this little town in northern Nevada sells a non-medicated chick starter. So, I have to order it and if there is any overlap of time without non-medicated, I'll very grudgingly feed the medicated. But I have since learned that it is ok to give them lay pellets if need be... so I won't be buying medicated feed ever again!

I have always given yogurt, once or twice a week, to growing babies. As they get older, I'd like to give it weekly but it usually ends up being monthly. When I take them to shows, they get it with each meal, without fail.

40 - 50 strains in kefir? I'll have to find out how to make that stuff.
 
I don't have access to raw milk, but I've taken to making my own yogurt. It's startlingly easy...I use a quart of powdered dry milk, mix in a good tablespoon of yogurt that has the live culture, and "incubate" it at about 100 degrees for about 7 hours or so. The girls love it just plain, and we add fruit or honey or whatever we like too. When the jar is about empty, I use what's left to culture another quart. Our 6 girls get about 3/4 of a cup 2 or 3 times a week and gobble it down!

Gonna have to check out kefir as well...I've seen the term but really don't know what it is. Sounds interesting and worth checking into. Thanks!
 
Thank you everyone! Now I am trying to find a babysitter so I can get to the worlds most thorough cleaning on my coop! I am going to try all of your suggestions, I really appreciate it.

Just so you know..... Cocci can stay on object and in the ground for a longgggg time. There are numerous strains.
This is how I handle cocci: As soon as I move chicks outside I treat with Sulmet for 3 days. Then keep an eye on the chicks. If they appear puffed up..I retreat for 3 days.
Plenty of probiotics.
For inside brooders...you need to clean with bleach/water. I use textrol disinfectant also. I just spray it on and let it dry. Same thing...if they look puffed up /droppy wingd, start treating right away.

hugs.gif
 
Just so you know..... Cocci can stay on object and in the ground for a longgggg time. There are numerous strains. 
This is how I handle cocci:  As soon as I move chicks outside I treat with Sulmet for 3 days. Then keep an eye on the chicks. If they appear puffed up..I retreat for 3 days.
Plenty of probiotics. 
For inside brooders...you need to clean with bleach/water.  I use textrol disinfectant also. I just spray it on and let it dry.  Same thing...if they look puffed up /droppy wingd, start treating right away.

:hugs


I had some cocci chicks in the beginning of Spring, I forgot to give them probiotic. :(. They got better but then died.

How many days do you give the probiotic?
 
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