medicaed feed...when to stop???

[roll8221]

Im wondering at what age do i stop giving medcated feed and start on regular? or can they stay on the medicted?

 

[silkiechicken]

What is it medicated with? If it's just amprolium, doesn't matter. It's just a thiamine blocker that inhibits the growth of cocci to aid the birds in developing their own immunities.

The feed bag should tell you when to stop.

 

[roll8221]

doesnt say. I sent an email to nutrena which is wh makes the starter/grower feed i am giving to them. I am hoping it is even medicated. I recently had a big outbreak of what i think was cocci and lost 18 birds. which is what the medicated feed is supposed to prevent. well, we'll see..... are you familiar with nutrena products?

 

[silkiechicken]

If it's not labeled on the feed bag, meaning not saying "medicated". It's probably not. If it has any type of medication in it, it would be listed first thing on the feed bag tag. I've not used nutrena products, but perhaps they have a website.

As for cocci outbreaks. It is in the soil so if you are raising them all on clean litter in a brooder, the medication doesn't do anything, they need to be exposed to the protozoa. Give them some dirt from the yard to play in, just a small dish, to get them started on building up an immunity. The medication only helps them build immunity to cocci, doesn't stop them from eating up too many oocysts. Just prevents the protozoa from reproducing in the host (bird). Having something like sulmet or amprol on hand just incase they get cocci is a good idea if you know it is a big issue in your area.

 

[Mahonri]

I've always said 3-4 weeks... just to be certain.

 

[roll8221]

ok..... found an old feed bag in the garage that still had the info on the tag.....it is medicated with bacitracin methylene disalicylate. it says until the onset of egg production.

 

[Wildsky]

I simply stopped after my first bag was finished... it was some time before laying.

 

[silkiechicken]

Don't know about that drug, but by 8 weeks or so, with exposure they should have built a good immunity. If the bag says till layer, go ahead and feed it till it gets close to laying time and switch when convinient.

 

[deerman]

Turkeys, peafowl, I keep on till 12 weeks, chickens,pheasants till 8 week

 

[roll8221]

sounds like a plan...... thanks everyone!!!