are you using a non-medicated starter?

[Bettacreek]

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Some chick starters have BMD in them as well. Manna Pro and an Agway starter have the BMD in it, which is an antibiotic. The Manna Pro also has the Amprolium, but I'm not sure about the Agway starter.

 

[95yj]

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I'm sure they are, i'm not saying that it can't be done, the proof that it can is all over this sight. I just prefer to be a little cautious because mine (broilers) go out onto grass and soil that has had adult birds on it in the past at three weeks old. The medications in the feed are not overly powerful and are shed from the birds system in a few weeks, maybe a month max.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I may not be remembering the right post, but i think that the comments pointing out the difference between thiamine blockers and antibiotics were more to point out that antibiotics do not protect against coccidiosis. Most medicated chick starters are medicated to protect against coccidiosis - and some also medicated with other stuff, such as antibiotics (another soap box for another day).........to the best of my knowledge.

If i was taken to be trying to scare people away from medicated feed, please know that is not my intent. I simply want to share my experience and my personal conclusions - just 'cause that's what we're all here for. I, personally, have had much better effects without medicated feed. And the reading i have done demonstrates to me that for a backyard flock, it doesn't really help. I'm no scientist. I could be flat wrong; i just don't think i am.

If you think medicated feed is the bomb, more power to ya.

And no hard feelings from over here.

 

[Beekissed]

PP, thanks for the positive review!

 

[elf]

Had a friend whose rooster developed some serious nervous disorder. She looked at the little ingredients tag on her bag of P. Flockraiser to find amprolium, even though nowhere on the bag itself did it say medicated. Also it has a pic. of a duck and she says ducks cannot have amprolium. I thought she was mistaken until I looked at her store, and saw that she was right. I looked at one of my empty old F. Raiser bags (identical to hers) but the little tag did not list amprolium. Is it available in both forms or did they change their formula? Aren't they required to say medicated on the actual bag? She says her tag was half-sewn into the bag, and who looks at those each time, anyway? You don't expect your feed to change. Just thought ya'lld want to know. I wouldn't want to be unknowingly eating amprolium eggs.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

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As long as it's on the feed tag that's all that's required. It's unfortunate your friend didn't look at the tag.

 

[PunkinPeep]

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Yes, Purina sells two formulas of Flock Raiser, one with and one without Amprolium. Both formulas are available in crumble and pellet form, but not to every area. You really have to check it out. I had to call Purina and have them email me all their poultry feed product sheets so i could sort out what's what. Then when i finally came to what i wanted, my feed store couldn't get that particular thing because of where the different Purina mills are located or something.

I guess i don't know what other companies do, but the feed i have been buying sells everything in the same bag with a bunch of pictures on it and their company name. The sewn-in tag is the only difference. And i make them let me look at it the tag. It is very important, in my opinion, to read those product sheets on everything if you want to keep certain drugs out of your chickens.

 

[hen-at-home]

Thanks to everyone for all the input on this thread! Very helpful!

I ended up with medicated starter because that was all they had when I picked up my chicks. Originally wanted to do non-medicated. Now that I've read through most of this thread I am going to switch to some form of food without medication. My girls are between 3 and 4 wks old now. Does anyone know if cracked wheat is ok to feed chicks this age? I was thinking of maybe making my own feed and supplementing that with whatever they get outside when I let them out during the day. Can't remember who it was, but I think it was on this thread - they listed what they used to make their own feed. I know Quinoa (sp?) was on that list. If I throw together some grains do I have to have a certain ratio of one grain to another/ and ratio of hard boiled egg to grain...etc.? Anyone know if there is a place on BYC that has recipes for home made feed?

 

[Beekissed]

Member freemotion feeds a whole grain recipe all her own..you could PM her and ask for her recipe. Her chickens do very well on it.

 

[hen-at-home]

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Thanks I will do that.

BTW - like your signature!