This morning we recvd 31 chicks from McMurray (all alive!). They were vaccinated so I am feeding them regular chick starter. We also have four, 1-week-old chicks that were not vaccinated and we were told to feed them medicated chick feed (as soon as the brooder construction was complete the kids had to buy chicks to put in it!). I am planning on keeping the two groups separate for a while so different feeds is no problem for now. But, how long do the non-vaccinated chicks need the medicated feed? I would like to begin mixing them in maybe 2 or 3 weeks.
They don't "need" it per se. The feed is probably just a cocci medicated feed, so as long as you slowly introduce the chicks to the local soil, they should build up immunity just fine.
Some people never feed medicated feed. The general idea on Cocci meds is to withdraw the medicated chick starter by 12 weeks old or so. I suppose any time on cocci meds will give them some added resistance to the disease. Some may have other opinions on it.
Put some soil in with them so they can be exposed to the cocci and they can build up immunity. Then just use up your bag of medicated feed.
Do you mean put some of the soil from where they will have their run at inside of the brooder with them to get used to it? We have ours on medicated starter...they are just over 2 weeks old...
Yes- they will be exposed to cocci and will build up a resistance to it. The medicated feed will help protect them. Some feel you don't need it and a majority of times the chicks are just fine without medicated feed. I'm a worry wart and have started all my chicks on med feed.