Chick feed/ medicated or non?

[Folly's place]

I don't think that the coccidiosis vaccine is all that useful, rather using the medicated feed is a better option. It needs to be fed for a couple of weeks AFTER the chicks are exposed to your soil and run, so don't stop feeding it too soon! I'd rather not wait to have sick and dying, or stunted, chicks, so if there's any doubt, the medicated chick starter is a good product to use.
Mary

 

[SeaHen]

After 20+ years of raising chickens I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question. I never used medicated feed before losing several chicks suddenly a couple of years ago; I began using it with incubator-hatched chicks after that. In general I'm opposed to the use of chemicals, vaccinations and interventions, but 2 of my goats nearly died of coccidiosis so I know the possibility is real.

 

[SeaHen]

Maybe, all I know is the man who runs our local feed store warned us that medicated could cause their valves to get clogged.

As a nurse, when I think of valves I picture cardiac anatomy lol. I'm not sure what he's referring to but if it's pasty butt that's easy to watch for and remedy.

 

[Celticdragonfly]

I only have experience with 4 chicks so far. With all the excitement, I just took the bag of feed they handed me, and didn't realize until we got home that it was medicated. They seem to have done just fine on it. We used a brooder plate, not a heat lamp. We had no cases of pasty butt.

 

[SueT]

Some of the BYC old timers have advised giving chicks a plug of sod in the first few days, to help them develop immunity to coccidia. And the chicks love tearing it apart.

 

[Folly's place]

I wait until the chicks, if in a brooder, to get dirt and stuff when they are a little older, as in ten days old or so. Broody raised chicks, who haven't had shipping stress, are outside with mama much sooner.
If your soil is good, that's great. If it's a 'bad patch', overinfested with coccidia, not so good.
Mary

 

[DellaMyDarling]

Some of the BYC old timers have advised giving chicks a plug of sod in the first few days, to help them develop immunity to coccidia. And the chicks love tearing it apart.

We went that route...then lost 4 chicks.
Perhaps our overly rainy weather contributed. As poster above mentioned, perhaps waiting until they're a little older would have been better.

Certainly lots of interesting thoughts in this thread to take info from.

 

[LuckyCluckyCA]

I wait until the chicks, if in a brooder, to get dirt and stuff when they are a little older, as in ten days old or so. Broody raised chicks, who haven't had shipping stress, are outside with mama much sooner.
If your soil is good, that's great. If it's a 'bad patch', overinfested with coccidia, not so good.
Mary

Mine will be on a brooder

 

[Willowspirit]

Maybe, all I know is the man who runs our local feed store warned us that medicated could cause their valves to get clogged.

Where are a chicken’s valves and please explain the mechanism of them being clogged. What are the outward signs of clogged valves?
‘

 

[Ghosty]

I feed 23% game bird starter (unmedicated) for the first few weeks. I add some sod when they are bigger, 1-2 weeks old. I switch to medicated chick starter at 3-4 weeks, when they go out to the coop. I keep them on medicated till they are 8-9 weeks, then go to an all flock crumble. I have had a few chicks get coccidosis, and find the medicated feed to be necessary for me. Once they are feathered and roaming around outside, I have to get them on medicated feed for awhile.