Do you give your chicks non-medicated food?

[chickchickgirls]

Just wondering if anyone out there doesn't give their chicks the medicated feed. I always have in the past, but I have a couple ducklings this year that need their own feed. The local farm store said they used to give their ducklings the medicated feed along with the chicks. Due to space, I really need to have them all together, so just wondering how bad the chicks would be on regular crumble, so I don't overdose the ducks. Thanks!

 

[vjbakke]

I'm a total nubie but we are not using medicated feed. We only have 6 chicks and we live in an urban area. I didn't see the need for medicated feed.

 

[chickchickgirls]

Me either. I really want to avoid any extra medication or antibiotics. Too many horror stories out right now! But I wanted to hear other people's opinions on it. Thanks for sharing yours!

 

[packmomma]

I've used medicated in the past to help prevent coccidia..but this year I opted not to. I know the signs of it and I havent had a problem with it yet. If so then I will dose them with something but the farm stores really arent carrying much medicated feeds anymore round here.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

I've never feed medicated feed. Ever.

Been raising chickens for many years now, never had a problem.

 

[kristamarie]

I also do not use medicated feed. I have three chicks and am feeding them a standard starter crumble. Everyone seems happy and healthy so far!

 

[Tiramisu]

They do fine on crumbles. That is all I have ever fed chicks and they do great.

Really all medicated feed has Amprol, this helps to prevent them from getting coccidosis. There is too much Amprol concentrated into the feed for the ducks to eat it though.
the med feed might have other stuff in it too, but it depends on brand and stuff.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

The feed store told me that medicated feed would kill ducks.

I use unmedicated feed now and no coccidiosis. I have had cocci in my flocks when they were on medicated and then switched out to nonmedicated.

 

[Aemelia]

I had been using medicated the first 2 1/2 weeks and then accidentally bought non-medicated in a huge bag so that's what they have been on for a week now. I have been worried but so far so good. My chicks are inside (so I'm cleaning their cage out often) and I only have three of them. I have read it's more common in unclean conditions and with more densely populated chicken raising settings. So I'm being extra careful about keeping everything clean especially the water container if it gets poop in it. I just changed all the bedding and bleaches the whole thing today.

 

[Ann2178]

I have used the medicated kind, but I am curious about the ducks. Are they easy to take care of, and do you have them in the same place as your chicks?