Do my chicks need to have medicated feed?

[RustyandChipper]

Hi!

I have two bubby chicks that are 2 weeks old. Still with mum and spend time outside every day.
We have two other girls and were wondering if the bubbys need to have medicated feed and what age they should start having it.

Thanks!!!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

The chicks should have chick starter feed medicated or not is up to you. Good luck with your cute babies.

 

[SD Chicken Wrangler15]

You can start feeding them the medicated feed on day one, but I read somewhere on here that you don't need medicated feed if your babies were vaccinated after hatching. Good luck with your flock!

 

[chickens really]

I feed medicated Chick starter from day one till 8 weeks..

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! There's some confusion here'll try to simplify the story.
Chicks can be vaccinated against Marek's disease, which is a virus, and then be isolated from exposure for two or three weeks so they can develop immunity.
Most medicated feed has amprolium, which helps chicks manage their possible exposure to coccidia, which is an intestinal parasite found in soil. Some of us are blessed to have minor or no issues with this parasite, and can safely not feed medicated starter. Other places, and they can be in the same neighborhood, have huge issues, and chicks need the medicated starter to avoid illness and death from a too rapid 'invasion' of this parasite.
There is a 'vaccine' against illness from coccidia, and it's a low dose of the parasite given to day-old chicks. If they then are fed amprolium, this 'vaccine' is wasted.
As new chick owners, the safest plan is to feed medicated (amprolium) feed for eight to twelve weeks, until after the chicks have been on your ground for a while, because you won't know if your site has a problem or not.
Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, you don't need medicated feed. Your chicks are already exposed to local cocci, and have been since they were hatched. Broody raised chicks rarely have issues with cocci. There is a 2 week opportunity of benefit after hatch when the chick has the greatest number of antibodies inherited from her mother. So, your chicks have been building their immunity since hatch. Amprolium is a Thiamine blocker. While studies seem to indicate that blocking thiamine does not injure the chick, I choose not to use it. I've never had cocci issues with any of my chicks.

Bottom line is this: Your chicks, your flock. There is no right or wrong answer here. Do what makes you comfortable.

 

[chickens really]

I always think of the conditions outside..Wet and humid conditions is a breeding ground for Coccidiosis ....All my Chicks are Broody raised and still get medicated starter..Yes, it is a choice ...

 

[coach723]

Medicated or not is a personal choice. Either way you should familiarize yourself with coccidiosis symptoms, just in case. I have occasional outbreaks of it, I've never lost a chick, either brooder or broody raised to it, and I have always used unmedicated chick starter. I keep Corid on hand in the event it's needed. Medicated feed MAY prevent an outbreak, but it can still happen and in that case you have to treat with amprolium (Corid) in a higher dose than the feed has. Medicated feed has a very low "preventative dose". My brooder raised chicks are exposed from the day they arrive as I provide dishes/trays of my soil in the brooder every day, and my broody raised are on the soil right away naturally. I don't think there is one 'right' answer, do what works for you and what you feel most comfortable with.

 

[song of joy]

If the chicks have already been outside foraging with the mamma hen for a couple of weeks, they've already been building immunity to cocci. So, they probably don't need medicated feed unless they're on wet ground. My broody-raised chicks have never had an issue with coccidiosis.

Those are adorable chicks! They remind me of my Swedish Flower chicks.

 

[RustyandChipper]

Thanks guys! We have had a ton of rain recently but they had been outside in the dirt for a few hours every day since 3 days old. I would imagine that my yard is ok seeijng as my other 3 have never been sick (well as far as im aware). We just finished their new coop and they are now outside permenantly so that my other girls can get used to them.

My Luna is chutt (chicken mutt) and penguin is a cross australorb