Is Medicated Chick Feed Alright??

[JSossong]

I got my second batch of a dozen chicks yesterday (first batch I got in April from TCS) from a small town Feed and Supply Store. I was running low on chick feed for my first flock so I figured I'd just pick some up when I got my new chicks. While there I asked the man working for chick feed and he said they carried one kind...I asked if it was medicated and he told me that almost all chick feed had to be medicated. I told him that what I was using at home wasn't (Dumor Starter Feed). He reassured me that it had to be. Being a first timer I took his word for it and bought the medicated feed. On the way home I googled if Dumor was medicated (it isn't) and that it must be posted on the bag if it is medicated.

Just now while reading The Small-Scale Poultry Flock by Harvey Ussery, he recommends not using medicated feed, and I agree for many reasons. Since I already bought and started using the medicated should I continue using it until it's all out? Is this going to be a problem when I switch to non-medicated? My old flock (now 7 months) is not using medicated-while my new flock (2 days old) are using medicated.

Thoughts and feelings please and thank you!!!!
xxx

 

[foreverlearning]

I prefer non medicated but it won't harm your chicks to have medicated for one bag. Non medicated is really hard to find because people want the medicated for problems their chicks don't even have yet. You are right, dumor is non medicated and so far I haven't seen a medicated chick feed in that brand. Switching back after this bag is gone will not harm them and you will find that they prefer their old feed better.

 

[happyhens1972]

I have always used medicated feed on the basis of it preventing any problems with the chicks at a young and vulnerable age and giving them that protection when they go in with the older chickens in case there is cocci in the pen and the older ones have built up natural immunity.

Can I ask why people WOULDN'T give medicated feed?

I sort of worked on idea that we vaccinate our children, dogs, cats etc against diseases they don't yet have and may never get on a 'just in case' basis, why not chickens?

 

[foreverlearning]

I have always used medicated feed on the basis of it preventing any problems with the chicks at a young and vulnerable age and giving them that protection when they go in with the older chickens in case there is cocci in the pen and the older ones have built up natural immunity.

Can I ask why people WOULDN'T give medicated feed?

I sort of worked on idea that we vaccinate our children, dogs, cats etc against diseases they don't yet have and may never get on a 'just in case' basis, why not chickens?

I can't speak for others but I have a 35 year history of no cocci on my property so it seems useless to medicate when I know it is not here. The medication in the feed is only for 2 forms of cocci. If it prevented something that we get heavily in my area like fowl pox (our mosquitoes here spread it really bad) I would medicate in a heartbeat! I also do not sell chicks and keep a closed flock so that may be a factor.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I have always used medicated feed on the basis of it preventing any problems with the chicks at a young and vulnerable age and giving them that protection when they go in with the older chickens in case there is cocci in the pen and the older ones have built up natural immunity.

Can I ask why people WOULDN'T give medicated feed?

I sort of worked on idea that we vaccinate our children, dogs, cats etc against diseases they don't yet have and may never get on a 'just in case' basis, why not chickens?

It's a personal choice and neither one is "correct." Lots of people choose each option and I don't think that either is harmful. Read the label but most medicated feeds just have a cocci preventative (amprolium) and not tons of antibiotics and stuff. (If it does have a antibiotic -- rare but happens -- I would return it) Eating it won't hurt them but don't listen to your feed store -- they don't NEED it either. It's up to you.

Some people choose not to because amprolium is NOT a vaccine and does not work in the same way as a vaccine does. It does not guarantee that your bird will not get cocci. If you read through the threads lots of people who are feeding medicated feed still end up with birds with cocci. It can HELP in the right conditions but it is not a cure or a true immunity.

Medicated feed was designed for large scale factory birds who live in conditions that are always soiled with bacteria and it is not comparable to most backyard situations. Amprolium works by blocking the absorption of vitamin B1. Also if you are only feeding medicated feed when the chicks are isolated in the brooder and they are not being exposed gradually to cocci and soil then it's really not doing anything.

I personally would rather not give my birds any medications that are not completely necessary so the medicated feed does not match up with my current farming goals.

There are alternative ways to help that some people prefer that do not involve medication. Also, some regions and environments are more prone to cocci that others so it is a bigger concern to some flocks and less in other situations.

This is a pretty good BYC article with a lot of info.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/coccidiosis-and-medicated-feed

There are lots of factors so I always think its best to do a little research and then choose whatever best suits your area, needs, and goals.

 

[JSossong]

Thanks for the info everyone! Very helpful! Not sure if I'm going to let them eat the whole bag yet or not...going to read a bit more on the subject. I can calm down a bit now that I know it's really not so serious.

 

[JSossong]

I have always used medicated feed on the basis of it preventing any problems with the chicks at a young and vulnerable age and giving them that protection when they go in with the older chickens in case there is cocci in the pen and the older ones have built up natural immunity.

Can I ask why people WOULDN'T give medicated feed?

I sort of worked on idea that we vaccinate our children, dogs, cats etc against diseases they don't yet have and may never get on a 'just in case' basis, why not chickens?

I'm leaning more towards not using medicated -I feel that it's not completely necessary in a small scale flock- my chicks aren't being raised under highly stressful industrial conditions and would survive without being fed additives. Like I said above, I've been using The Small-Scale Poultry Flock by Harvey Ussery as kind of my "chicken bible" and he makes a few good points: If chicks need exposure to cocci in order to develop an immunity, why feed them coccidiostats to kill them off whenever they enter a chicks system? Plus excess feeding of antimicrobials will lead to the resistance of bacteria, making them less effective in the long run. Lastly, it may leave residues in the eventual eggs/meat.

I'm glad to hear that you've had good results using a medicated feed. It calms me down knowing that it's really not an issue, just a personal preference. At the same time that I lean towards no for medicated- I may continue using with this batch because of the fact that I am using the same brooder that I just raised my last batch in...I did sanitize and disinfect everything that was used, but you can never be too safe I feel.

 

[happyhens1972]

Please do not think I was in any way saying my decision is right and that of others is wrong, it was a genuine enquiry.

I see the point, I guess, in the fact that it may seem unnecessary. I have a relatively small flock of 15 adult birds who have been on the same piece of land of about one fifth of an acre for the whole of their lives. When flock members pass away, I usually buy in POL birds from various sources, non of them vaccinated, just from backyard breeders.

I have, however, raised a couple of batches of chicks on the same ground for the purpose of stock replenishment and to sell on to help pay for feed. This has also been small-scale....only a dozen each time....but I have fed medicated feed on the 'just in case' basis.

I currently have four 3 week old chicks, 15 eggs in the incy due next week and 6 more on order for hatch next month. With three batches of chicks at various ages who will be gradually integrated with each other and then the main flock, I just feel I'm playing safe....but I can equally understand the points made above and definitely see it as a matter of choice.

 

[foreverlearning]

Please do not think I was in any way saying my decision is right and that of others is wrong, it was a genuine enquiry.

I see the point, I guess, in the fact that it may seem unnecessary. I have a relatively small flock of 15 adult birds who have been on the same piece of land of about one fifth of an acre for the whole of their lives. When flock members pass away, I usually buy in POL birds from various sources, non of them vaccinated, just from backyard breeders.

I have, however, raised a couple of batches of chicks on the same ground for the purpose of stock replenishment and to sell on to help pay for feed. This has also been small-scale....only a dozen each time....but I have fed medicated feed on the 'just in case' basis.

I currently have four 3 week old chicks, 15 eggs in the incy due next week and 6 more on order for hatch next month. With three batches of chicks at various ages who will be gradually integrated with each other and then the main flock, I just feel I'm playing safe....but I can equally understand the points made above and definitely see it as a matter of choice.

This site is non judgmental and at least I understood you were asking a question instead of making a point. A lot of things we decide for our flock is a personal choice and we all have different reasons. Learning other people's reasons can help when you give advise to other people. For instance: I said mosquitoes and fowl pox are big concerns for my area (deep south) so many of us use sand as bedding in our coop and fans to combat this problem. I would never advise to use sand in the north in winter because so many people have a problem with it freezing and not being able to properly clean their coop. Freezing is never a concern for me but because I know what other areas have problems with I can properly advise them when they are looking into bedding options. Wait until you find the natural vs not treatments! That is where most of the hot discussions come into play and knowing both sides will help you give options to others when helping them.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Please do not think I was in any way saying my decision is right and that of others is wrong, it was a genuine enquiry.

For sure! Just wanted to try to answer your question. I do truly think either choice is a good one.