Excess starter grower feed

[Ponte]

I have about 30-35 lb of medicated country feed starter grower feed which I give my 7 week old chicks. The chicks keep trying to eat the layer feed so want to switch to an old flock feed.
Would it be a problem if I fed, until it runs out the med starter grower feed to all our chickens. One is laying and two should be laying fairly soon.

 

[goldysgirl]

I have about 30-35 lb of medicated country feed starter grower feed which I give my 7 week old chicks. The chicks keep trying to eat the layer feed so want to switch to an old flock feed.
Would it be a problem if I fed, until it runs out the med starter grower feed to all our chickens. One is laying and two should be laying fairly soon.

I have heard that it is not advisable to eat eggs or meat from birds on medicated feed. Is there a recommendation on the bag? If you google the specific medicated ingredient you might be able to find out if they recommend a certain amount of time before you eat eggs/meat, if there is a waiting period.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I wouldn't just because I wouldn't want to eat the eggs from hens eating medicated feed personally.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I've read it's "minute" hence ok but lets ask the experienced ....
@coach723 @Wyorp Rock @aart @azygous @Texas Kiki @casportpony

You could sell the reminder on CL or see if someone will switch.

 

[Kiki]

The medicated feed is fine to use until you empty the bag. Just pick up a bag of oyster shell and leave some in a dish for the layers.


Guys...the 'medicated' part of the feed is not antibiotics or anything that will 'hurt' anyone.

It is simply a very low dose of amprolium to help prevent Coccidiosis.

 

[kerbotx]

There's no withdrawal period for eggs when treating with Corid, so I think it's fine for the feed as well. I always give the leftover chick feed to the adults in my flock.

 

[goldysgirl]

The medicated feed is fine to use until you empty the bag. Just pick up a bag of oyster shell and leave some in a dish for the layers.
I

Guys...the 'medicated' part of the feed is not antibiotics or anything that will 'hurt' anyone.

It is simply a very low dose of amprolium to help prevent Coccidiosis.

The medicated feed is fine to use until you empty the bag. Just pick up a bag of oyster shell and leave some in a dish for the layers.


Guys...the 'medicated' part of the feed is not antibiotics or anything that will 'hurt' anyone.

It is simply a very low dose of amprolium to help prevent Coccidiosis.

Good to know...I googled and sources agreed with you regarding medicated feed. I have avoided medicated feed because I like to minimize exposure to potential toxins, but I guess it really isn't a concern.

 

[azygous]

Amprolium merely blocks the absorption of thiamine, a B-vitamin that coccidia rely on for their life cycle/reproduction. It's not really a "medication". But prolonged feeding of this type of feed could result in a thiamine deficiency. Chicks are fed this to help them develop a resistance to coccidiosis. It's implied that they won't be eating it into adulthood.

However, feeding unmedicated chick starter to your adult flock is perfectly all right. Read the ingredients on the package sew tape label. Compare it to all flock feed such as Flock Raiser. It's very nearly identical.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have about 30-35 lb of medicated country feed starter grower feed which I give my 7 week old chicks. The chicks keep trying to eat the layer feed so want to switch to an old flock feed.
Would it be a problem if I fed, until it runs out the med starter grower feed to all our chickens. One is laying and two should be laying fairly soon.

Can you post a photo of the feed tag so we can see what medication is in the feed? Or do you have a link to a website that has the ingredients?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@kerbotx I am unable to quote you for some reason, but here is your reply "" I don't have a readily linked source, but I believe it's now been proven that Amprolium mimics thiamine, it does not actually block it - so no risk of deficiency."



Here's some information about how Amprolium works:
It is thiamine antagonist and due to its close structural similarity it blocks the thiamine receptors. This blockage of receptors prevents coccidia from utilizing thiamine and as a result thiamine is unavailable to coccidian (Competitive inhibition of thiamine uptake). This vitamin (thiamine pyrophosphate) is a cofactor of several decarboxylase enzymes which play role in cofactor synthesis. It is only agent which can be used in laying birds both for prevention and treatment of outbreaks. At higher doses, thiamine deficiency can occur in host but it can be prevented by addition of thiamine."
Source: http://www.poultrymed.com/Amprolium

There would risk of deficiency when Amprolium is given long term (at outbreak dosage levels). Treatment period for poultry is 5-7 days, so unlikely a deficiency would occur.

But, most medicated feeds are at preventative levels, so...B1 (Thiamine) deficiency would not be that big of a concern, plus feed does contain B1 in a balanced proportion.

Plumb's Vet Drug Manual under Amprolium states : "excessive thiamine in the diet can reduce or reverse the anticoccidial activity of the drug"
Nothing defines "excessive", so one would just have to assume that the balanced poultry feed would not contain excessive amounts of Thiamine that would contradict the medication.