I had the same dilema, medicated or nonmedicated chick starter. For me, it was mainly because I will be raising a duckling with my chicks, and ducklings can run into problems eating medicated food. Yet, I wanted my chicks to have the protection the medicated food offered. I finally called the Avian Vet, who specialize in just birds. I was told that if your chicks are going to be around adult chickens, it is best to feed medicated. The reason for this is that adult chickens, even if they show now signs, can be carriers of coccidiosis, the illness that medicated chick feeds are usually geared towards fighting off. Being as little as they are, chicks usually can't fight it off as well as larger chickens. I chose not to feed medicated because not only will I be feeding a duckling, my chicks will be indoors, unexposed to any other chickens for quite a few more months. About a week before I do get ready to put them them out with the older birds,I could feed them a medicated feed, to get the medication in their system, before they may be exposed. I was told that it only takes a few days for the medication in medicated feed to take effect. Anyway, if I were you, I would feed medicated. Hope this helps!
