Chick feed/ medicated or non?

[BigBlueHen53]

We had our chicks vaccinated before they were shipped to us, I assume for Marek's. We were told to feed NON-medicated feed, so that's what we did. (They all got pasty butt.) I still do not understand the connection between the vaccination and the medicated feed, but we did not lose any chicks to illness and they are now about 14 weeks old and doing great. I can't wait for my first egglets!

 

[Folly's place]

Marek's vaccination has nothing to do with medicated feed. The coccidiosis vaccine is live coccidia, and one meal of medicated feed eliminates it's effectiveness.
Do figure out what your chickens had at the hatchery!
Mary

 

[GC-Raptor]

I get unvaccinated Chicks at a feed store or TSC.
My first Flock of 5 Golden Comets are 38 months old. I fed them a Medicated Start and Grow 18% the day I got them till 16 weeks.
I kept them in a Brooder till 5 weeks when I put them outside. Never got coccidiosis.
My second batch of 7 Barred Rock Chicks from TSC were fed a Medicated Start and Grow 18% when I got them home till 11 weeks when the Medicated feed ran out.
I switched to a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower 18% or a All-Flock/Flock Raiser crumble 20%, whichever is fresher or available when I'm at TSC.
I put them outside at 5 weeks old. Never got coccidiosis. They are 10 months old.
I read that Medicated feed is not helpful after 10 weeks. Don't remember where I read it.
I now use Medicated feed for the first 10 weeks, then switch to Non-Medicated when feed runs out.
Don't feed Medicated if the Chicks have been vaccinated for Coccidiosis.
Don't feed Medicated if you want to sell eggs as Organic. GC

 

[Folly's place]

Last I looked, feed medicated with amprolium is okay in organic. Do look it up though. Treating sick chicks isn't better.
Mary

 

[GC-Raptor]

Last I looked, feed medicated with amprolium is okay in organic. Do look it up though. Treating sick chicks isn't better.
Mary

I have never seen a Organic Feed with Amprolium. But I would say that it would be a good thing. GC

 

[GC-Raptor]

I would like to add that a medicated feed should be the only food offered for 10 weeks. No Scratch Grains, Cracked Corn, or kitchen/ table scraps for maximum effectiveness. GC