Medicated feed.

[Free Feather]

Do turkey poults really need medicated feed? And if so, why? The guy I have make my feed was flipping when I told him not to medicate my turkey grower. I figured they would develop their own immune system stronger if they were not medicated.

 

[GitaBooks]

I've never had poults, but my chicks don't get medicated food (at least I hope they don't. It doesn't say so on the bag) and they do fine. They've never needed it. They develop healthy immune systems and are hardy and full of energy.
In my opinion, if birds start showing signs of being sick than they should be treated, putting them on medication to prevent problems just makes the viruses/bacteria/parasites build up resistance.
However, I understand why people use it. Coccidia takes birds really fast, sometimes so fast you can't treat them, which is why people use preventative medicine.

Best of luck!

 

[Free Feather]

Does anyone know when coccidiosis is most likely to effect poults on grass if it is going to?

 

[GitaBooks]

I think coccidia is most likely to effect baby birds when they are in the brooder. Outdoors they aren't eating, drinking and standing in their next to their own droppings and so they don't get overloaded by all shed coccidia oocysts. I've never had a coccidia problem in my flock though (and I hope I never do

) , so I can't be sure.

 

[retlaw]

Medicated feed is the product of factory farming.
Very large amount of birds in a confined closed room where sickness is going to happen.

Good husbandry is the key to happiness.

 

[Free Feather]

Medicated feed is the product of factory farming.
Very large amount of birds in a confined closed room where sickness is going to happen.

Good husbandry is the key to happiness.

That is what I figured, especially since most of the sources insisting you must do it is universities and feed companies for confined systems.