Do I need all this stuff? Or is McMurray just trying to make a buck?

[oilcan]

Two years ago we bought 25 chicks from a feed and grain. Now we are getting a second set of 25 and this time we want more variety than we can get locally so we ordered from McMurray. When we hit the checkout screen there were a number of products suggested that we are wondering about the actual value of. We don't mind spending money, but we hate wasting it, you know?

BBC Broiler Booster 4 oz - Contains Vitamin A, D, E, B-12, electrolytes, and biotin, which counteract weak legs and yield healthier, stronger birds. $8.45

QCC Quik Chik 4 oz - Get your chicks off to a good start with this combination of vitamins and electrolytes. $4.95

GEL Gro-Gel Plus - Shipped with Poultry Orders - Immediate nutrition and hydration for all baby poultry in a very concentrated and digestible form. $3.90

Vaccinate 25 chicks for Marek's Disease (baby chicks only). What is Marek's Disease? $3.75 Yes

Vaccinate 25 chicks for Coccidiosis (baby chicks only). (FEEDING MEDICATED FEED WILL NULLIFY COCCIDIOSIS VACCINE) What is Coccidiosis? $3.75 Yes

The first one seems odd because we are ordering 25 heavy layers, not broilers. Or are they similar enough that this is sensible? The description on that talks about growth spurts in the larger birds that need extra nutritional support.

The second one is a water additive for when they arrive. The third is a food gel that is supposed to be both more nutritious than regular chick feed and, by virtue of being bright green, will help the chicks find their food.

We will vax for Mareks, but I didn't know about the Coccidiosis vax. I haven't seen chick feed that wasn't medicated to prevent it, so that sounds like kind of a waste.

The chicks we got before were already over any shipping shock they may have experienced, so I don't know if any of this stuff is important or not. Thoughts?​

 

[chicmom]

Wow! The Meyer Hatchery vaccinates for Mareks disease for just $1.00 per bird. I always get the vaccination for Mareks, but that's it. This other stuff is nice, but you really don't need it.

 

[oilcan]

I think that's $3.75 for all 25 birds.

 

[NoSkiveez]

The 3.75 for the Merricks is for all the chicks. It is 0.15 per chick. The grow gel in shippment, in my opinion was a good idea. Any additional grow gel ordered would be shipped seperately.

I ordered the mareks vaccine but did not get the Coccidiosis vaccine. I got the Mareks because if I am not mistaken that is the one that there isnt a cure for and if they got it, they would die. Coccidiosis was the one preventable by feeding medicated feed so we didnt get that one.

I got the gro gel shipped with the chicks so they would have something to eat in transit. I had a 100 bird box with 84 birds in it. They used 3 of the 4 corners of the box, but there was gro gel in all the sections. The gel in the empty section was still gel like and the other sections were stained green where the gel had been placed, so I am assuming that it had been all consumed by the chicks. I also wish that I had ordered additional packs of gro gel to feed after their arrival. We had some losses and I felt that atleast 2 losses could possibly had been prevented if they had some better nutrition the day they arrived. I didnt feel just chick mash and water was enough.

 

[speckledhen]

I never vaccinate chicks for anything. Cocci can show up even when you do feed the Amprolium-laced feed. It will not necessarily prevent it. I find it works just as well to feed non-medicated (when I can find it) and treat for cocci as it appears with liquid Corid (concentrated Amprolium). I never give electrolytes, either, only a teaspoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a quart waterer for a few days. Sometimes, I use a pinch of Avia Charge 2000 (avian vitamins) in their water and alternate with ACV. Most of my flock hatched here and the hatchery chicks I've had over the past few years were shipped from Ideal and picked out by me at the feedstore the same day.

 

[txchickie]

I like the Gro-Gel, I think it's worth the few bucks for it. Quik Chick is supposed to be some good stuff. Neither is necessary, and I've ordered PLENTY of times without either.


I don't vax for ANYTHING, but that's a personal decision for me.

 

[Turner]

I have gotten chicks from MM for years.

This is what I think you need:

1) Marek's vaccinations for all chicks.

2) Cocci vaccinations for all chicks - then you do not have to feed medicated feed...your choice.

Vaccine for 25 chicks is about $3.00 + for each.

3) Gro-gel that you give them upon arrival for the 1st 24 hours. MM does put a bit in the shipping box too. Really gives them a great start.

4) Quik Chik for the water. I use it for the chicks until it is all gone. I Teaspoon per gallon of water.

Good Luck!

 

[Soccer Mom]

My two cents:

1. I always do the Mareks vaccine. I never do the Cocci one, but I give the medicated feed instead.

2. Love Gro-gel. I think it's a great boost for chicks that have been shipped.

3. Don't need Broiler booster for layers.

4. Never tried Quick Chick stuff.

 

[luvzmychickens]

wow i didnt have or do any of that stuff, i just kept em' warm and gave them food and water, they turned out just fine. P.S make sure your water dish is not to deep, they might drown them selves. good luck and have fun!!!

 

[smithhouse]

Remind me, Speckledhen, what is the benefit of ACV? I have seen posts in my earlier research, but I can't remember what it exactly does.