Quote: What she said!
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.