Exposing chicks to soil to prevent coccidiosis

[SueT]

Last year I read that exposing chicks to soil early on will help them build up immunity to cocci. So I plan to implement it this year. Actually next week is when I am going to get some chicks.
I am asking those who are experienced with this, what soil should I use? From the chicken run? Or just my yard? Lots of it, or just a plug of sod?. Do I introduce it on day 1 and keep it available till they go out to the coop? Do you feed medicated feed in addition? I've been using Purina Flock Raiser for all ages (it's non medicated) and always have some fermented available as well.
Thanks for your advice!
Sue

 

[SueT]

I am looking thru the old threads and some of the experts are saying use soil from the run, as early as possible. Not sure how much to use tho.
Here's an article I found that pretty much sums it all up:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coccidiosis-and-medicated-feed.49007/

 

[Trish1974]

Following along as I have wondered this myself...

 

[azygous]

We use a plug of sod, dirt, grass and roots intact, from the areas where our chickens free-range. Whatever species of coccidia inhabiting your area, and there are seven different ones all together, will be living in that plug of soil. Coccidia are present everywhere.

Baby chicks have a window during the first two weeks or so where they are building immunities and their immune systems will create antibodies against that species of coccidia, making them resistant.

This does not mean that they will be immune against all coccidia, just have a resistance to those in their vicinity. If you go visit Aunt Mabel on the farm and run around in her pasture and come home and go into your chicken run wearing the same shoes, if the species of coccidia on her farm are different than the ones in your yard, your chickens could get sick because they haven't built resistance to them.

Also, if the conditions are just right, warm and wet, a coccidia population explosion can occur that can make all your chickens sick even though they have resistance.

It's sort of like our flu outbreaks. You do what you can to protect yourself and hope the strain you aren't resistant to isn't floating around when you go to the grocery store.

 

[Trish1974]

So you add the sod within the first 2 weeks?

 

[SueT]

So you add the sod within the first 2 weeks?

I understand it to mean add it on day one, as the first 2 weeks are when the most immunity building happens.

 

[azygous]

Introduce the sod clump anytime during the first two weeks.

The baby chicks have a riot of a good time destroying it. Be prepared for a glorious mess, the more they get into it.

 

[debid]

If you think about it, the cocci vaccine is a small dose of cocci on day 1 and then you don't feed medicated feed to suppress it, you just let their bodies deal. You're trying to replicate that.

FWIW, I brood outdoors in a side-by-side setup and the chicks get soil access and interaction with the adults that way. IMO, it's far easier to bring the chicks to the world than to try and bring the world to the chicks.

 

[rita2paul]

i never knew this, i will try this when my baby chicks hatch.

 

[Folly's place]

It depends. Many of us have few or at least a low burden of coccidia in our soils, so adding some dirt clumps to the brooder, or having chicks outside with a broody hen, works beautifully.
BUT, if it's a very bad year at your place, or if you do have MANY coccidia is your soil, those chicks may get sick and die without medication.
Poultry experts generally recommend feeding amprolium medicated feed for two months or so, until after the chicks have been out on the ground, to avoid illness from a massive coccidia overload.
As a new chicken owner, you need to decide how risk adverse you really are, and move forward.
Mary