Teenagers

[chickenfan]

I believe teenage growers are at a critical time when the young birds are building their immune systems. Is it important to keep them completely separate from the adult birds (if they are not vulnerable to bullying)? Or is it the chicks you have to keep them away from?

 

[Marigold]

The reason they're best kept separate from adult birds and fed growers pellets is because these are formulated to promote slow steady growth and don't contain an excess of calcium at a time they don't need it because not yet laying, I would imagine healthy growth and correct feeding would in itself promote a good immune system. I've never heard of keeping them separate to improve immunity, though it's an interesting idea. I would imagine that they might actually benefit from reasonable exposure to immune system challenges in building their defences. Much as we are now all urged to let our babies and young children crawl on the floor and play with animals, instead of trying to keep them in too sterile an environment. (There was no chance of that here for my kids, environment was anything but sterile!)
One less thing to worry about, maybe?

 

[MrsBiscuit]

I do keep my growers separate from the adults precisely because their immune systems are not fully developed and they are at a critical age when things which can adult could shrug off, a grower might not be able to. See to your chicks first, then the growers and lastly the adults so you don't tread nasties between pens, and if you are taking things really seriously then disinfect boots between visits. A side benefit is that it is easy to maintain the correct feeding regime between the different ages, and I like to watch a hatch grow up together, developing their differences both in appearance and behaviour, it helps me understand the birds and decide on the keepers

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you very much Mrs Biscuit. That's very helpful and I will go along with a similar plan. I find it fascinating how different they all are in character and they change in appearance almost on a daily basis.

 

[chickenfan]

I have my chicks in coops on grass amongst the adult birds, and ideally like to move them a bit each day, which means they are on the same ground as the adults. But I have a feeling that chicks and adult birds together are fine (after all the broody is an adult), and its just the teenagers one has to worry about them being so vulnerable. They love the grass. What do you do about separating your teenage cockerels and hens Mrs Biscuit?

 

[MrsBiscuit]

Well I do tend to keep the chicks separately as well, either alone with their broody, or entirely separate if I have hatched in an incy. This is an attempt to keep them off ground occupied by adults as I have had cocci in the past, a very nasty disease, and I have enough space that I can provide new fresh ground for chicks.

In terms of the cocks and pullets, I keep large, slow maturing breeds (orps and a particular strain of red sussex), so I don't have many problems with the cocks bothering their siblings. When they start crowing and/or being annoying, then I start to separate them - either into the pot or rehoming or resale. I would say this is around 16 weeks at the earliest, right up to 26 weeks, but I know I am lucky.

 

[chrismahon]

We have not used medicated crumb on our chicks and have them on ground heavily grazed by the adults. However we did start them on a dose of Avipro Avian in the belief that it would populate the gut and protect them from coccidiosis. It seems to have worked.

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you very much Mrs Biscuit and Chris for your replies. Very interesting that Avipro Avian may help to protect against cocci. I have a feeling this stays in the environment for a long time anyway if it is in the adult birds, but don't know a lot about it. I remember the main Avian Homeopathic Vet (advising organic farms), who lives near here, telling me that teenagers are full of infections they are fighting off whilst they build their immune system.

My extremely characterful baby cockerel that seemed to be rather a sex maniac with both his brothers and sisters is now free-ranging with Joanna. He wasn't happy in a separate pen next to the others. She seems to be teaching him some manners as well as bonding closely with him. So in this case I am mixing an 8-9 week old with a gentle adult.