Hello from Wisconsin

[smallfarmnorth]

I' am new to BYC and also to raising chickens. I find this site very informational and love it. I do have one question when it comes to medicated or non for starter chicken feed. is it critical to use medicated for preventing other diseases? if chick's that I buy come vaccinated should I still use medicated feed? This topic is touched on lightly on this site but since alot of you are experts in this field I would like to know your opinions. thanks for any help

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, smallfarmnorth, and

! Pleased you joined our community! You will find opinions going both ways on that question. You might try typing in a search on the search bar. Try: medicated or unmedicated. That will get you a lot of past discussions that might help you with your choice. Good luck to you!

 

[Kevin565]

. I don't have chickens so I can't give personal experience but you may get more responses in the "Raising Baby Chicks" section.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Glad you joined.

Medicated Starter Feed given to chicks can help prevent Coccidiosis if your chicks are introduced to soil. There is no vaccine for Coccidiosis so getting your chicks vaccinated wont do anything towards it but a different disease (Mareks Disease). Medicated Starter Feed can only prevent Coccidiosis, no other diseases.

I used Medicated vs non-medicated and Im really glad i did.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!

Glad you joined us!!!

 

[kidcody]

fromm washington state glad you joined us!

 

[justbugged]

I' am new to BYC and also to raising chickens. I find this site very informational and love it. I do have one question when it comes to medicated or non for starter chicken feed. is it critical to use medicated for preventing other diseases? if chick's that I buy come vaccinated should I still use medicated feed? This topic is touched on lightly on this site but since alot of you are experts in this field I would like to know your opinions. thanks for any help

Welcome from the soggy side of Washington State.

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Yes you need to use medicated feed for no less than the first couple of weeks. The vaccines are for things like Marreks and such. The chicks have no immunity to things like Salmonella and other bacterias, so the medicated feed helps them get past the first weeks of danger.

 

[mommamarsh]

Welcome from Kentucky! Best wishes for your new adventure.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Willow's post was exactly right. And medicated does not mean antibiotics. Instead the feed has a niacin (amino acid) restrictor which makes it hard for coccidia to multiply, it does not actually kill them, just limits their number. So birds are able to develop natural immunity. Birds kept in confinement are more likely to be exposed to large numbers of parasites, so medicated feed is a good way to limit illness and death without any risk to you or your birds.