Cocci/medicated food question

[Ekemp]

Hello! I'm a first time chicken mama, and am just trying to understand, set my chicks up for healthy lives, and be prepared in case of illness.

My chicks are almost 2 weeks old. They were not vaccinated, and I have been giving them medicated feed from day one at the recommendation of the store where I bought them. I have heard a few people say they put dirt from the coop area into the brooder to help expose them to the cocci before sticking them outside without the medicated feed.

At 2 weeks, is it too late to start the dirt clump exposure? For 7 chicks, how much dirt and how often do I give it to them? If I give them dirt, do I need to also start offering grit? If I see signs of cocci, how do I determine dosage of corid?

Also, on the bag of medicated feed it says "do not change litter while using medicated food unless absolutely necessary." I've scooped it out a few times, but haven't done a full clean/replace. Is this really how it's done? Leave most of the bedding to keep the medication in their system?

Thanks so much, I am hoping I don't have to worry too much about it, but just want to get all my ducks (or chicks!) in a row just in case!!

Here are a couple of pics of my ladies too, because they're so dang cute!

 

[cavemanrich]

On warm days, let them run around outside in your yard. (supervised of course) Keep feeding the medicated feed until you use it up. By then your chicks will develop their own immunity to Cocci.
I never used Corid, so no info on dosage.. If you do get to that point, that you need Corid,,,,,, read instructions on the product label.
Or ask here, and someone will know the dosage amount.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[townchicks]

Ok, first of all, it's coccidia, not cocci. I know a lot of folks on here use cocci as a shortcut, but cocci is a bacteria, and coccidia is a parasite. Not harping on you, I just like to be clear, as chickens can get cocci too. Now, here's the way medicated food, and Corid work. Coccidia is a parasite that is found in the soil, so gets into the chickens intestine when it pecks around in the dirt. Chickens bodies develop some resistance to the parasite after some exposure to it, but if there is an over abundance of the parasite in the intestines it becomes a problem, irritating the lining of the intestinal tract and causing diarrhea and blood. The medication in Corid, amprolium, inhibits the absorption of the B vitamin thiamine, which the Coccidia need to survive, causing them to start dying off to allow the chickens body to develop resistance. Medicated food has a weaker dose of amprolium, to help the chick adapt, but it is pointless unless the chicks are exposed to the parasite in soil. That is why folks put a clump of soil from where the chicks will be kept so they can get exposed to Coccidia. They will not get exposed by the litter in the brooder, unless you bring in some soil. They do need grit if you bring in soil, as they will eat some, and any grass with it. Medicated food will not treat a case of coccidiosis, it is just intended to help resistance. If the diarrhea and or blood symptoms develop, Corid is the treatment. I hope this helps.

 

[townchicks]

Btw, I realized I did not answer your question about the litter. Really, those instructions don't make any sense to me. Clean your litter as needed. You can, as suggested by @ cavemanrich, take them outside for short, supervised visits, weather permitting. Good job on the brooder, and yes, they are cute!

 

[Ekemp]

Ok, first of all, it's coccidia, not cocci. I know a lot of folks on here use cocci as a shortcut, but cocci is a bacteria, and coccidia is a parasite. Not harping on you, I just like to be clear, as chickens can get cocci too. Now, here's the way medicated food, and Corid work. Coccidia is a parasite that is found in the soil, so gets into the chickens intestine when it pecks around in the dirt. Chickens bodies develop some resistance to the parasite after some exposure to it, but if there is an over abundance of the parasite in the intestines it becomes a problem, irritating the lining of the intestinal tract and causing diarrhea and blood. The medication in Corid, amprolium, inhibits the absorption of the B vitamin thiamine, which the Coccidia need to survive, causing them to start dying off to allow the chickens body to develop resistance. Medicated food has a weaker dose of amprolium, to help the chick adapt, but it is pointless unless the chicks are exposed to the parasite in soil. That is why folks put a clump of soil from where the chicks will be kept so they can get exposed to Coccidia. They will not get exposed by the litter in the brooder, unless you bring in some soil. They do need grit if you bring in soil, as they will eat some, and any grass with it. Medicated food will not treat a case of coccidiosis, it is just intended to help resistance. If the diarrhea and or blood symptoms develop, Corid is the treatment. I hope this helps.

Thank you!! Unfortunately our Oregon temps are still pretty chilly for the ladies (around 60-65 F) so I will start bringing them a bit of dirt. How frequently should I be adding dirt to their brooder? And how much? I appreciate your reply!

 

[Ekemp]

On warm days, let them run around outside in your yard. (supervised of course) Keep feeding the medicated feed until you use it up. By then your chicks will develop their own immunity to Cocci.
I never used Corid, so no info on dosage.. If you do get to that point, that you need Corid,,,,,, read instructions on the product label.
Or ask here, and someone will know the dosage amount.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thank you for replying! I'm in Oregon, and unfortunately we haven't quite made it to the warm temps yet. Yesterday we got to 75F, but it's looking like we're dropping back down to the low 60s for the foreseeable future.

 

[townchicks]

Thank you!! Unfortunately our Oregon temps are still pretty chilly for the ladies (around 60-65 F) so I will start bringing them a bit of dirt. How frequently should I be adding dirt to their brooder? And how much? I appreciate your reply!

Frankly, I don't do chicks, so I'm not sure. It looks like most folks do a 3 to 5 inch clump of dirt and grass. Watch their poops, and if all is well, refresh in a week. Be sure to get chick grit, not grit for adults.

 

[Ekemp]

Frankly, I don't do chicks, so I'm not sure. It looks like most folks do a 3 to 5 inch clump of dirt and grass. Watch their poops, and if all is well, refresh in a week. Be sure to get chick grit, not grit for adults.

Thanks so much, I truly appreciate it! There is so much info on this site, sometimes it is hard to shift through for what I'm looking for.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you!! Unfortunately our Oregon temps are still pretty chilly for the ladies (around 60-65 F) so I will start bringing them a bit of dirt. How frequently should I be adding dirt to their brooder? And how much? I appreciate your reply!

It's not chilly actually, not for 2 week olds. You can safely take them outside for increasing periods of time as long as there's a secure place for them to go (a predator proof run, a coop) and shelter to protect against wind and sun. That will also let them experience the outdoors without worry about how big of a dirt clump you'd need (really doesn't matter, a small amount or a shovelful are all fine).

If you don't have small rocks suitable for use as grit in your soil, then provide a pinch of grit on their feed a couple times a week.

 

[Ekemp]

It's not chilly actually, not for 2 week olds. You can safely take them outside for increasing periods of time as long as there's a secure place for them to go (a predator proof run, a coop) and shelter to protect against wind and sun. That will also let them experience the outdoors without worry about how big of a dirt clump you'd need (really doesn't matter, a small amount or a shovelful are all fine).

If you don't have small rocks suitable for use as grit in your soil, then provide a pinch of grit on their feed a couple times a week.

Oh no way! That's good to know! I'll have to set them up for a little adventure then! Thank you