Do vitamin packs cancel effectiveness of medicated feed?

[RodBrandt]

My understanding of medicated feed is that the active ingredient (typically Amprolium) blocks a chick's absorption of thiamin (B1), which causes the cocci protozoa to starve to death.

My local feed store sells electrolyte & vitamin packs and guess what they contain? B1!

Does this mean that the vitamin packs can interfere with the medicated feed? The reason I ask is that I believe I have seen a hatchery or two recommend both medicated feed AND vitamin packs.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Yes. I believe it does. Doesn't make it harmful though.

And I also think medicated feed is irrelevant if you aren't overloaded on chick count in too small of space... AND are able to keep the water poo free. Cocci is on every single chicken poo. I have seen chicks take a drink directly from another's poo. They have some resistance to and continue to develop it. Cocci is a problem on some people's pasture. Weather I'm sure play's a role. As well as animal load. If you can keep your brooder fairly dry, it should be fine.

Also a vitamin pack (or anything else) should never be supplemented more than 10 days.

Lots of simple recipes for chicken electrolytes online...
https://104homestead.com/poultry-electrolytes/

Some people who use medicated feed will still have to treat for coccidiosis even if they didn't supplement vitamins AND EVEN if they used medicated feed. Sometimes the shavings are wetter underneath than they look on top..

Hope this is helpful.

 

[RodBrandt]

Yes. I believe it does. Doesn't make it harmful though.

And I also think medicated feed is irrelevant if you aren't overloaded on chick count in too small of space... AND are able to keep the water poo free. Cocci is on every single chicken poo. I have seen chicks take a drink directly from another's poo. They have some resistance to and continue to develop it. Cocci is a problem on some people's pasture. Weather I'm sure play's a role. As well as animal load. If you can keep your brooder fairly dry, it should be fine.

Also a vitamin pack (or anything else) should never be supplemented more than 10 days.

Lots of simple recipes for chicken electrolytes online...
https://104homestead.com/poultry-electrolytes/

Some people who use medicated feed will still have to treat for coccidiosis even if they didn't supplement vitamins AND EVEN if they used medicated feed. Sometimes the shavings are wetter underneath than they look on top..

Hope this is helpful.

Great advice - thank you!

 

[azygous]

Withholding vitamins is required only if you're treating coccidiosis. The amount of amprolium in medicated feed is very minimal, and it only is designed to support the chicks developing resistance to coccidia, not treat anything.

 

[Lisbeth1063]

Withholding vitamins is required only if you're treating coccidiosis. The amount of amprolium in medicated feed is very minimal, and it only is designed to support the chicks developing resistance to coccidia, not treat anything.

Just got kicked from a group for saying the very same thing. The woman wasn't treating for that but put up a picture of her chick and it was lethargic. I suggested vitamins and reevaluate in 24 hours. I then told her about vitamin deficiency in chicks. I had several ppl jump me because she was feeding medicated chick feed. Good grief, I tried to argue the facts and told them a poultry vet that teaches at the university of Kansas told me I could but they said that was wrong and to many vets get it wrong. They were on a power trip and so I just left the group. I think there will be lots of dead chicks in that group.

 

[crissy1079]

I know this is an old thread but thought I’d try. So does medicated feed cancel out the vitamins? I had a chick laying on her side. I started her on rooster booster she was fine the next day. I also started her on medicated feed same day. 2 days later she is on her side again and vitamins are not helping. Should I stop medicated feed and just do vitamins. She has no diarrhea or any other symptoms

Just got kicked from a group for saying the very same thing. The woman wasn't treating for that but put up a picture of her chick and it was lethargic. I suggested vitamins and reevaluate in 24 hours. I then told her about vitamin deficiency in chicks. I had several ppl jump me because she was feeding medicated chick feed. Good grief, I tried to argue the facts and told them a poultry vet that teaches at the university of Kansas told me I could but they said that was wrong and to many vets get it wrong. They were on a power trip and so I just left the group. I think there will be lots of dead chicks in that group.

 

[azygous]

I know this is an old thread but thought I’d try. So does medicated feed cancel out the vitamins? I had a chick laying on her side. I started her on rooster booster she was fine the next day. I also started her on medicated feed same day. 2 days later she is on her side again and vitamins are not helping. Should I stop medicated feed and just do vitamins. She has no diarrhea or any other symptoms

You need to start your own thread to get help for this chick of yours. It sounds like it could be coccidiosis and yes, vitamin B-1 will render any coccidiosis med impotent. Other vitamins are fine.

But medicated feed will not treat coccidiosis. You need a coccidiostat. In the US, that would be Corid.

 

[crissy1079]

I did start a new thread but found this one while researching so thought I’d ask.

You need to start your own thread to get help for this chick of yours. It sounds like it could be coccidiosis and yes, vitamin B-1 will render any coccidiosis med impotent. Other vitamins are fine.

But medicated feed will not treat coccidiosis. You need a coccidiostat. In the US, that would be Corid.