What Your Granny Didn’t Know – Busting Chicken Myths

Posted on March 29, 2015 by John White

People often think that because I advocate a return to traditional ways and values that I blindly believe the old ways are always the best ways. This is definitely not true. And some of the ‘old ways’ aren’t even that old! Until the 1970’s they still put radium in things like ear drops and toothpaste. Before that it was in face creams and promoted as a healthy thing to put in your water. Radium!

That’s an extreme example of what is called the Appeal to Tradition Fallacy.

I’d like to bust some of the myths I’ve heard folks tell me before. When talking to local farmers especially it almost always starts with ‘my Granny always did it that way’ or ‘Grandad showed me this trick…’

(Disclaimer: I’m Southern and I love my own Granny so no offense meant by the following post. We’re the first to laugh at ourselves at the White homestead.)

Granny frequently comes up as a muttered rebuttal against information I give out or suggestions I make that are contrary to that dear, wise old woman.

‘Well, it worked for my Granny…’

Sure, it might have worked for her, but was it the best way? The safest way? The least toxic way? I know a lot of folks who don’t seem to care until something bad happens. Take my sister-in-law, for example. She thought my wife and I were cracked for concerning ourselves so much about organic food, GMO’s, and all that other crunchy granola California-people stuff. (Note: We also love Californians. Maybe.)

‘It wouldn’t be on the shelves if it wasn’t safe to eat, you nit-wits!’ (Note: We don’t love nits)

Then she almost killed herself cleaning her bathroom one day. After that we didn’t have to say a thing because she was telling us all about how toxic and dangerous your average household cleaners are to humans and pets.

Or I can tell you how our neighbor found out that the illness her precious purebreed poodle was suffering from was potentially caused by a well-known floor cleaner and she had joined a class action lawsuit against the company that produced it for not putting labels warning of the danger to pets and crawling children.

Before I really get my dander up and start jabbering about GRAS lists and the FDA, I’ll get to the neatly presented chicken myths I hear most often. On the left is things I’ve heard and then on the right (I made a little table for y’all) I bust the myth with modern fact and explain why Granny’s way isn’t the best for this particular case.

‘My grandpappy used to just dunk those chickens in turpentine or gasoline when they had mites and lice. That fixed ‘em right up!’	Yeah, I’ll bet it fixed the chicken right up. I’m sure it did also kill the mites or lice involved. Aside from being a literal walking fire hazard for a few minutes to an hour, dunking chickens in gas or turpentine is toxic to all involved. What you put on your skin gets absorbed so eggs wouldn’t be safe to eat for days. If you’re keen to use petroleum products, try Vasoline instead!
‘My grandma said that you have to have a rooster with the hens to get them to lay.’	Nope. Hens will lay all on their own. No rooster needed unless you want baby chicks. Even I used to think that roosters stimulated hens to lay more often, but I recently read that it is a myth. After doing some numbers on my own coops and compared rooster to rooster-free ones, I discovered it really is a myth. Which is a good thing for folks considering urban coops where roosters are usually forbidden.
‘Granny fed ‘em dog food. It always worked for her. We ate those eggs and we were fine! Don’t need no stuck up, city-folk… mumble-mumble…’	Dog food is not something chickens should eat on a regular basis as it is not formulated for a chicken’s nutritional needs and can make them ill after a while. I wouldn’t worry if the chickens get a few bites of your dog’s kibbles, but don’t actively feed it to your chickens. Aside from that, processed pet food is awful for just about anyone’s health. Would you really want to eat eggs from chickens who eat dog food? Most of it is made in China, where health standards are very low and a lot of profit is made by greased palms who look the other way. Anyone remember the scandal where melamine was found in dog food and baby formula?
‘We’ll just use the chicken poop straight from the chicken. Worked great for my PawPaw.’	I doubt it. I think PawPaw probably aged his chicken poop on a compost heap first before using it in the garden. Otherwise, it would burn all the plants up and he’d have a brown veggie patch.
‘We always used a light to keep chickens laying all year long. Never had any problems when I was growing up so we still do it now. The chickens are just fine.’	This one is kind of a personal bone with me. Again, I don’t believe that tradition is always right, but nature usually is (not all the time, but that’s Natural Fallacy and we can talk about later). This is sort of a reverse example of Granny’s wisdom because if Granny had been around 120 years ago she wouldn’t have even had lights. Whereas most Grannies were born in the 40’s or 50’s and post-post-industrialization. Using lights goes way against nature. With chickens I believe the hens involved will have a shorter life, but I don’t have hard evidence on that one yet. I do know that most factory farms run through a hen as hard as they can, don’t let them molt sometimes, and perhaps this is why using lights bothers me so much. Just like keeping bees awake 24/7 with lights so they can keep producing, it’s plain wrong. Humans should be the keepers and caretakers of animals. Forcing production is not caring for our animal brethren. Every farmer has to make a personal decision about this. I strongly recommend a lot of research if you choose to use lights with your hens.
‘My granny always bought the brown eggs from the store. Said they were healthier. So I reckon I should get a brown egg layer!’	Nope, sorry. No difference between brown and white or any other color eggs.
‘Eggs are bad for you. Everyone knows they’re full of cholesterol!’	Even our own wonderful USDA has finally twigged to the fact that food sources of cholesterol do not raise blood cholesterol levels. Like much of dear Granny’s wisdom, it’s 1950’s science for a 21st century world. Even most doctors are estimated to be 17 years behind on current science discoveries.

Recipe: Creamy Coconut Chicken Soup

Posted on March 19, 2015 by John White

I made this soup for my family last week when my wife was sick and everyone loved it, even the kids. I’ll admit that I didn’t make homemade coconut milk for it like in the video, and used bone broth my wife made instead of boiling the chicken. But it still turned out great and I think if I do it like in the video next time that we can toss the coconut grounds to the chickens as a treat.

Next blog post I’ll be talking about Grannies!

Lacto-Fermenting Vegetables

Posted on February 27, 2015 by John White

Okay so I know some of you know what this is and some of you are probably thinking ‘lacto-what?’

I can say sauerkraut and people better understand what I mean by fermented vegetables. I believe most people think that fermentation is only for fruit and grain, like wine and beer. It’s a lot more than that. Even breads (sourdough) and drinks (kombucha, kefir, water kefir, buttermilk) are cultured and fermented. Also yogurt, sour cream, cheese, etc.

Why do people ferment foods?

Health
Repopulating good gut bacteria
Pre-digesting food to make it easier for delicate digestive systems
to add enzymes that help break down other food being consumed
Long-term storage
To make foods that are normally unable to be digested (like milk to those who are lactose intolerant) easy to digest
To increase the vitamin content of the food being eaten
It’s fun
It tastes good (food can be more sour or tangy after fermenting)
A cheap hobby

When we first kicked drinking soda several years ago, my wife decided to make a fun, fizzy drink for the kids. We tried making milk kefir first, which was a big adjustment. We hadn’t heard of water kefir yet. However she saw a tutorial online and from a few slivers of root ginger, water, and some sugar she made a healthful fizzy drink for our family that she flavored with fresh strawberry puree. When winter came around she hid elderberry syrup in the fizzy fermented beverage (that batch of syrup was a bit experimental and not too popular with the kids).

I get the impression from my readings that in most places in Europe fermentation is not the lost art that it is here in the States. Through our rapid commercial expansion there have been a lot of traditions lost and sometimes I feel like America no longer really has a culture. My wife must feel the same way because she’s always cooking something from India, France, the Middle East, or just about anywhere but here. Maybe it’s just her way of travelling without leaving the farm. 😉

I’d like to heartily recommend that everyone who reads this try a little something new today. A spoonful of homemade sauerkraut with your dinner could do wonders for your digestion. A few sips of lacto fermented soda could help you drop that corn syrup laden health nightmare.

I’ve got some recommended reading if you’re interested in learning more, just scroll past the videos. These are three books that are absolutely invaluable to me (I don’t make commission from these links, but that’s not a bad idea…). I have them all sitting next to my copy of The Self-Sufficient Life (and how to live it) and Back To Basics.

And as for how to make that awesome lacto fermented soda my wife makes? Here’s the video that first taught her how.

Wild Fermentation

True Brews

Preserving Food Without Freezing Or Canning

photo by:

Finding Or Starting A Buying Club

Posted on January 23, 2015 by John White

What is a buying club? Many people have never even heard of this concept and I’m continually amazed at how most people still consider things like organic fruits and vegetables to be something that ‘snobs’ eat! I’ve really heard people say this and it hurts to hear because I feel if they only knew the benefits (or even worse, how bad conventional food is!) that they would switch in a heartbeat.

Even sadder are those who KNOW and just can’t afford it!

Years ago we fell into that category. We’d pinch every penny and shop around for every deal to get a better quality of food for our family. Back then, and I mean perhaps 2004-2005, organic food was getting a little easier to find but it was still outside the norm. If you went to a grocery store you usually wouldn’t see anything organic there yet. If you were lucky enough to live near a Wild Oats, Henry’s Market, Earth Fare, or Whole Foods then obviously you could find organic food easier. I remember shopping around in health food stores with my mother back in the 80’s and looking in wonder at the pathetic little selection of organic produce. A few shrivelled hands of ginger and some bananas were usually it. I wondered then why people just didn’t get their vegetables at the grocery store where they were bigger and shinier.

These days, unless you never get into a big city, you can usually find organic fruits and vegetables a little easier. My wife tends to shop in town once a week and since we have a magic fridge that keeps things for a long time this works great for us. Our raw milk lasts close to three weeks and our salad greens for about two weeks. Most people aren’t that lucky, though. And many who are raising chickens are in rural areas. Or the organic stuff at the store just isn’t affordable! And at our local farmer’s market I saw some folks scalping the poor yuppies. $7 a dozen for eggs and $8 a pint for organic berries? Are they serious?

As everyone is usually looking to lower their food costs I recommend buying clubs. These are local co-operatives where people usually volunteer a little of their time to keep the group running (things like sweeping after close, helping to stock the shelves, put together orders, etc.) in exchange for getting access to wholesale prices on perishable and non-perishable items.

Our buying club here in Kentucky is awesome because not only do they have connections to local farmers for fresh, raw cow and goat’s milk, but also other local products at cheap prices. In addition, they buy from Azure Standard, Frontier, Tropical Traditions, and other companies that cater to buying clubs. Local farmers (like me) also bring in their eggs to sell or trade at prices that are much more reasonable than those crooks at the farmer’s market or grocery store sell them for. They even bring back the cartons for me to refill and I give them a little discount for each carton I get back.

So you’re ready to find or start a buying club, huh? I’ve got some links below that can get you started with that:

http://startabuyingclub.com/
http://www.coopdirectory.org/
http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/
http://www.foodcoopinitiative.coop/buyingclubs

Let’s say, though, that there are no local buying clubs and you can’t or don’t want to start one in your area. There is now a really great alternative I heard a week ago called Thrive Market. I put in my first order and I’m waiting eagerly for it to arrive. They have a good selection of natural products now, but when I emailed their customer service I was told that the selection will get even bigger soon. They’re a new company, just started, and their mission is to make healthy food affordable for everyone. They only deal in non-perishables for now, but think of Costco or Sam’s Club but for a place like Whole Foods? Their prices are even cheaper than Amazon in most cases, and a LOT cheaper than Whole Foods.

How Eggs Are Formed

Posted on January 18, 2015 by John White

Something we don’t often thing about is the miracle of how chicken eggs form. We pretty much tend to take it for granted that we’re going to have some eggs in the coop and most folks don’t tend to think beyond that. Here is a great, short little video explaining how eggs are formed. This can also help explain why some internal parasites can get inside eggs as well!

Exploring Insulation and Ventilation Options

Posted on January 4, 2015 by John White

Now that winter is officially here, if you haven’t already (and you really should have done by now!) you need to look at insulation for your coop. This is a place where everyone seems to ‘know’ the answer and yet there are a lot of wrong answers. I’m hoping to clear up some of the confusion in this area for everyone. There are a few things that you MUST do.

Have a DRY coop

Currently a good portion of the US is rainy and wet and expected to stay so for a few months. Add cold to that and you can have some very unhealthy chickens.

The cold, wet air can encourage illnesses of the head and lungs such as flu, cold, bronchitis, cough, or some of the more ‘official’ sounding chicken diseases like coryza (a bacterial cold bug). But more than just illnesses, the damp conditions will breed a horde of fungi and molds that can be very dangerous or even fatal for your flock. To prevent this, start by removing anything that can serve as a breeding ground for mold or fungus inside the coop.

Hay and straw usually come with their own types of molds and fungi so if they start to get damp, scrape and dump it. In wet weather I usually don’t even bother putting it in the coop to begin with.
Water dishes that have been repeatedly filled but never washed. Slimy mold tends to build up and then the hens are actively drinking it. Yuck.
In places where it is often rainy (like the Pacific Northwest) or has a long rainy season (Florida and the low areas) it’s best to make a coop that does not have insulation between the walls because unless you spray it with nasty chemicals that can outgas into your coop, it’s going to get damp and because of lack of air circulation it will stay damp which turns into mold and mildew. Possibly even the dreaded black mold that is guaranteed to get into the lungs of your flock and YOU!

Have a TEMPERATURE STABLE coop

So let’s say that in the summer your coop has good airflow, catches the breezes just right, and stays nice and dry even in the rain. Your hens are happy and productive, giving you a lot of eggs because you also give them good feed and access to fresh water and insects.

Then winter comes . . .

This same coop that worked so well during the summer months becomes a nightmare. It doesn’t keep the drafts out completely. The plastic you put up over it catches the wind and frequently rips pieces of the coop or blows away. Your hens are freezing cold and huddled together so tightly that you don’t think you could pry them apart with a stick. The water is frozen in the dish.

What do you do?

Have a FUNGUS/MOLD-FREE coop

So your hens are warm and cozy. They’ve snuggled up together against a big hay bale to keep warm and there are enough hens to generate heat that prevents them from getting cold in the 20F temperatures outside. But the air grows moist from a combination of spilled water, ammonia fumes from the chicken waste, and no ventilation. Soon the hay bale wilts and the fungal spores start to grow from inside. Even the walls themselves are growing mold and mildew from the moist conditions. The chickens start to get sick from the damp, moldy air and the fumes from their own waste.

Or you could take those warm, cozy hens you started with and keep them that way by making sure there is a good airflow from bottom to top (cool air comes in on the bottom and carries away the air that is too moist or too warm up through the roof). You can use hay bales if you want, but keep in mind that they carry a lot of fungi and molds so it’s critical to keep the air the perfect balance between moist and dry or you’ll have problems. We’ve already explored how the the temperature variations can cause problems, as well as the moisture, but try taking some additional steps to keep your flock safe in the very likely event that you aren’t perfect and will never have the perfect balance of temperature and moisture.

When you do seasonal cleaning, spray the walls with a light solution of vinegar and lemon, lavender, or thyme oil (thyme oil was the original Lysol…). This will help prevent mold and mildew.
Paint the interior of your coop at seasonal cleaning time with mold and mildew resistant paint. They have a low VOC paint that is safe for animals and humans.
Put a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar in your chicken water to help combat mold or fungal growth where the water gets spilled.
Stay on top of chicken waste, especially in the winter.
If you serve your flock a hot mash or peelings for a treat, make sure they eat it all and if they don’t make sure it’s cleaned out of the coop within two days.

There are several options for insulation that work for coops depending on your needs. If you live in a hot, dry area then the type of insulation you need is drastically different from someone who lives in a cold, damp climate.

HOT & DAMP (Florida, Coastal South, etc)	Insulation isn’t needed, but ventilation is a must to prevent mold and fungus.
HOT & DRY (Southwest US)	Insulation isn’t needed as much. Focus on keeping flock hydrated.
COLD (or COOL) & DAMP (Pacific Southwest)	Light insulation since temperatures rarely go below 25F. Ventilation is important to prevent illness, mold, and fungus.
COLD & DRY (Midwest states)	Insulation required, ventilation type depends on amount of chickens in coop. May need additional heat source, but usually a heated water dish will provide enough warmth unless you have very few chickens or a very large coop.
EXTREME COLD (Upper Midwest, Canada)	Insulation required, ventilation depends on amount of chickens in coop. Will certainly need additional heat source.

Roll insulation works really well, but to prevent mold problems inside the walls where I can’t see it, I like to use a safe roll insulation like bamboo or recycled denim. I’m not really concerned that way if the hens peck at it a little. Just staple it up on the walls, then cover the walls with cut to fit chicken wire or micromesh.

Until later,
John

Cyber Monday, Black Friday… Grey Thursday?

Posted on November 29, 2014 by John White

For years retailers have been pushing the boundaries of good taste by having sales start earlier and earlier. Sometime last year the inevitable happened and stores started opening on Thanksgiving itself. Bath and Body Works (so my wife told me) was open for 30 straight hours from 6pm Thanksgiving night until 10pm Friday. I shudder to think about the poor employees who were forced to deal with the madness of Thanksgiving shoppers when they should have been home with their families.

What happens to people who drop tradition and replace it with consumerism? What happens to a society that continues to snub holiday spirit for a new iPhone or new pair of shoes?

Retailers in their greed are even expanding out to other countries now. In 2010 retail giant Amazon expanded their Black Friday sales to the UK and other retailers followed so now the same madness has been extended to the Brits as well.

I mention this to encourage others in curbing their retail spending this season and focusing on what really matters: family, faith, and fellowship.

Insect and Worm Farming – An Unusual Way To Make Extra Money

Posted on November 21, 2014 by John White

So I’m not even going to pretend that the thought of eating a worm or insect isn’t totally disgusting to my Western brain. I’m not going to try to convince you that they are a great protein source for humans because . . . yuck. I’ve tried to overcome the irrationally fearful idea in my head of eating something with more limbs than I have, but it just hasn’t worked out. I know intellectually that worms and insects are a good potential food source for humans, but it doesn’t seem to translate to my mouth. My hens, however, aren’t so picky. They love the things. So do fish for that matter. And I love eating both fish and hens. I suppose I could just consider myself as being so high on the food chain that I couldn’t possibly eat a lowly bug, but that just sounds snobby.

See here for more about more humble humans eating insects and worms.

For (what I consider) better reasons to think about farming worms and bugs, look at the potential benefits:

It is an inexpensive and unique way to keep your chickens fed with a high quality, natural protein source that will provide you with rich, yellow yolked eggs even in the winter
Your garden will thrive when it is full of earthworms and beneficial insects like ladybugs
Not only from the worms themselves, but the ‘worm tea’ they produce is a wonderful natural fertilizer for growing plants
Come fishing season, you’ll always have worms at hand
Also come fishing season, you can sell some of your extra worms as bait
Don’t forget your insects, though. You can sell some of those to your neighbors, too
There’s always the idea of selling your insects and worms to those who really do want to eat them

Now that it has turned cold for just about everyone, I consider this to be prime planning weather. Spring comes around faster than we are ready for it sometimes, so if you’re thinking that having a worm box or insect box might not be a bad idea then start looking for a place to put your new friends. This company has a great FAQ section and their products are available in the US, AUS, Canada, and several other countries.

Tumbleweed.co.au

It’s too complicated to get into the how-to on my blog here, but I wanted to put forth worm and insect farming as an idea that is rarely considered. It can be as big or small as you want, but the rewards are very gratifying for those who love to homestead. All the best to you and have a happy Thanksgiving wherever you are!

John

Hens Not Laying?

Posted on October 28, 2014 by John White

I was browsing YouTube and found an awesome video I’d like to share with y’all. Hope this is helpful to my friends here!

John

Guide to Common Chicken Illnesses and Diseases Part II

Posted on October 21, 2014 by John White

Hey folks, John here. Here is part two of the series I wrote about chicken diseases and common illnesses. But before I get too far into that, I wanted to address something here based on several emails I’ve received since the first post:

I’m not a doctor or a vet. I know, big surprise! With that obvious statement made, I need to advise you all to speak more with your vet if you suspect a serious problem. Sure things like garlic, oregano, cayenne, yogurt, and vinegar are going to help keep your chickens healthy and can reduce the severity of many common illnesses. But how can you tell the difference between a common illness and a serious disease? Even experienced chicken farmers can’t do that sometimes so getting a vet you trust will help out enormously in the long run. Remember, if they recommend a course of treatment it doesn’t mean that you have to follow that exact protocol if you feel another way is right. But you do need to get a good idea of what you’re working with first. If it’s something serious you may be legally required to destroy your flock to protect the people and animals nearby. Or if your vet starts prescribing a bunch of antibiotics for your chicken’s cold, well . . . you can probably treat that as you see fit. It all has to do with using common sense (which they say isn’t common, incidentally). Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and accept a treatment which would otherwise be something you wouldn’t use. Perhaps if I describe to you the term ‘allopathic medicine’ then you will better understand what I mean.

Allopathic medicine is the type of medicine most commonly practiced in Western countries for humans and animals. It was originally meant only for emergencies, then it became used for all situations. Think about it like this: if I break my leg I’m definitely going to the ER and I’m going to be thankful for the allopathic medicine the doctors use there such as x-rays and pain meds. However if I have a cold I’m not going to call in the AMA’s S.W.A.T team. I’m going to treat it myself instead of proverbially dropping napalm to kill a squirrel in the forest.

Lastly, before I get to the meat of this article, I’d like to ask you to not believe everything you read on the internet or even in books when it comes to herbs and natural healing. When my wife took a course on herbalism she was told to cross check everything among at least 3 separate sources but preferably more. A lot of forums will have information that is very helpful but is usually incomplete and written by folks that are hardly experts. On the internet, knowledge gets passed around like kids playing Telephone. D Mannose might be great for people with UTI’s, for example, and it prevents bacteria from sticking to the urethra which eliminates them and usually cures the UTI. But if you rush right out to treat yourself with it and happen to have diabetes then you might wind up in the hospital since it also raises blood sugar levels. See what I mean? Do your homework. I know too many people who just accept something they read on Dr. Google ( or hear from Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil) as fact without further research. Your chickens (and you) deserve better.

Mareks Disease

This is actually a viral disease that attacks chickens all over the world. Although sometimes turkeys and quail can fall victim to this, it rarely spreads to other fowl. In recent years there have been some pretty nasty strains of Marek’s popping up in North America and Europe. It can also be hard to get rid of and even industrial disinfectants can’t destroy it all the time.

Look out for birds that seem to appear like they’ve had a stroke. By this I mean that they look like parts of their body are paralyzed, especially in their legs or wings. Sometimes you’ll see their necks go floppy like they can’t hold them up. Their eyes may look funny as if the pupils are different sizes or a different shape. Usually they go blind if their eyes are affected. Many times you’ll have a few birds who show symptoms and many asymptomatic birds so be warned that your flock may be affected more than what is immediately apparent. There is no cure for Marek’s and it’s often fatal. Things that can help prevent this is good hygiene for your flock. If your flock does develop Marek’s then you need to probably build a new coop and move all surviving hens. Any new hens you introduce need to have been vaccinated against Marek’s disease, even if they are chicks born of mothers who carry the disease since it doesn’t pass on from mother to chick. Do not put your hens back in the old area for 3-5 years if ever since Marek’s is known to be able to survive in open conditions for years.

If you suspect Marek’s, call your vet right away so you can have someone walk you through the complicated steps of dealing with this nasty virus.

Infectious Coryza

This is a bacteria called Haemophilus paragallinarum and is relatively common but rarely fatal among fowl. It’s easy to kill once outside the host and usually dissipates within a few days. A good scrubbing inside the coop will usually get rid of it easily.

Garlic is a good preventative for any bacterial infections, such as coryza, as well as properly caring for your flock by cleaning their environment regularly and preventing cold, damp conditions from existing.

Even though coryza is really just a dreadful cold with symptoms such as bubbly eyes, open-mouthed breathing, nasal congestion, and a bad smell coming from the sinuses, most experienced chicken farmers will cull all affected birds for a number of reasons:

affected birds are carriers for life and will infect other birds that are healthy
birds who recover from coryza, which most do, will suffer recurrent bouts for most of their life and particularly when they are under stress
you generally can only completely get rid of this by using antibiotics, which is okay in emergency situations, but then your hens are weaker and eventually the whole flock is weaker including weak offspring
you probably can’t ever introduce clean, healthy birds into the flock again because they will also get sick

If you choose to cull the entire flock then this is probably also a prudent option, even if it is a sad one. Make sure to scrub and disinfect everything the chickens have used and leave it to dry for a week or two before introducing a new flock.

Avian Pox

Also called Fowlpox, this is a virus that can spread easily amongst fowl through bits of dead skin from the chickens rubbing up against each other and from mosquitoes. It spreads and develops very slowly, over several weeks. You’ll probably first notice that your chickens seem depressed with a lack of appetite and their egg production will probably start to drop. Then you will see little nobby wart-type nodules start to form on the combs, legs, and skin of the face. Although the actual pox aren’t dangerous and morbidity for it is fairly low, it often leads to secondary infections which do cause serious complications. Since this is a virus then obviously no antibiotic will cure it. Elderberry and astragalus given as a tonic daily in your chicken’s water will help prevent viral infections of all kinds, but stop giving it at the first sign of an actual virus since it will strengthen the virus as well as the chicken’s immune system.

If you live in an area with a lot of mosquitoes you might consider getting your flock vaccinated for this disease.