[WoodlandsDevon]

I have 50 day old chicks on order which are arriving in about a week and wondered if any one could offer advice/tips about preventing diseases that are deadly to young chicks. I have a large mesh floor brooder which is well ventilated so this should help with keeping them clean etc. I do know that you can buy specialist chick crumbs with a coccidiosis preventative in them but I believe this is expensive.

Are there any good disinfectants for cleaning and/or immunity building additives to put in the drinking water that anyone would recommend?

Thanks

[landroverroy]

Most manufacturers of chick crumbs put in a coccidiostat as standard. It does not appear to make the food any more expensive and I would recommend using it.
Small chicks need a higher protein feed than growers or layers so it's worth getting the right stuff to give them a proper start.
Coccidiosis is more prevalent in wet conditions so it is important avoid this.
There is a natural way to fight coccidiosis and that is by giving chicks a certain amount of whole grain (normally wheat) in their feed along with grit. The action of the gizzard in grinding up the grain with the grit also grinds up any coccidia eggs and prevents them from developing. However you need to limit the grain so that it doesn't dilute too much the protein content of the rest of the feed.
Apart from that, just use common sense as far as cleanliness is concerned. No point in having a totally sterile environment as the chicks then get no opportunity to build up natural immunity.

[Somewhere_by_the_river]

I completely agree with landroverroy. We buy the crumb with coccidiostat and don't find it any more expensive. Just check the ingredients/ask at your nearest supplier or online.

[Castle Farm]

Fresh clean water with Cider vinegar in it.
Rat free housing.
Do not allow the chicks to get cornered, curve some hardboard around the chicks.
Routine.

[lord flynn]

never bought chick crumb with coccidiostat in it, just keep them warm, dry and clean with a god supply of clean water.  That goes for when you introduce them to the outdoors as well-move their runs or their feeders/drinkers regularly, use a free draining bedding like easibed.

[Steph Hen]

Bit off topic
For later on, I read that long grass that stays a bit damp will harbour it, so when you come to put them out  a short turf is better.

Otherwise, I use treated chick crumb, clean water and stress to a minimum, as others have said.

Could I please ask what size mesh your floor is (for when I come to do mine.)?

[WoodlandsDevon]

Well my mesh floor is a bit er... bodged! I have layered pvc coated mesh with 2cmx2cm squares so that It's halved to 1cm squared. Not ideal but I had some to use up! 16 gauge weldmesh with 1cm x 1cm squares will be perfect but it is expensive if you are doing a large one. You could try pvc coated mesh with 1.2cm x 1.2cm squares (smallest size on ebay I think), could be cheaper?? 

[Steph Hen]

Thanks for that WoodlandsDevon. I was planing on 0.5" square, 16 gauge after putting chicks on some different surfaces to see how they managed. It's not cheap though! My brooder is 6 by 3.5 feet, and I'd like two! But I think it'll be worth it eventually.

[WoodlandsDevon]

It should pay for itself soon enough. It keeps the chicks dry and clean, especially when you're raising ducklings which are impossible to keep dry otherwise! Very easy to clean out because you don't have to move the chicks when you want to do this

[WoodlandsDevon]

just noticed blood in the poo of some of my 5 week olds. Could this be coccidiosis? They don't seem ill so could it just be that they're shedding their intestinal lining? with more chicks on the way I don't want anything spreading!