Medicated chick feed or organic?

[sydney13]

i feed unmedicated feed to my chicks because my gosling lives with them and the medicated is bad for waterfowl. the brooder they were in was getting very wet because the goose would try to climb into her waterer and it would spill into the bedding and it was also humid out so i was concerned about coccidiosis in the chicks but i never had a problem. i also didn't vaccinate for mareks or anything else because ive also read that its not a big concern in backyard flocks and i contacted the state poultry extension and they told me not to

 

[Tigerjane]

Good, I feel better about not vaccinating, then.

Sydney13, i checked out your page and your coop is gorgeous! I like the ones that look very neat and "house-like". I'm so scared for how the one my husband wants to build will turn out

He's sweet, but not exactly handy. Good thing he doesn't read this!

 

[sydney13]

Quote:
thanks

 

[silkiechicken]

For medicated feed to work, you MUST EXPOSE the chicks to cocci as SOON as possible. You can give them only medicated feed to eat for two whole months, but if you never expose them to the soil where cocci lives, it does no good. Cocci is a protozoa, and the medicine, which is a thiamine blocker in most feeds does not kill the protozoa, it only prevents it from reproducing. Thus if you never expose the birds while on the medicated feed, it is as good as never giving it in the first place.

 

[colowyo0809]

Quote:
I whole heartedly agree! This is why I haven't tried harder to keep the teenagers off of the top of the brooder. They may poo on it, but they are exposing the younger ones to whatever is in their system, thereby passing that all on! Also, I am a big fan of not isolating my children (when I have them) from things like colds, or the flu, or chicken pox. Develop the resistance early, and thrive late!

Viva la Resistance! lol

 

[Tigerjane]

So if I don't use medicated feed, is it better for me to keep the chicks indoors as long as possible? I live near Austin, Texas, and it gets HOT during the day. I was planning on the chicks have supervised outings in a small pen so they could have a taste of "free-ranging", probably around 2 weeks old. but if they're not on a medicated feed, would this be exposing them to things they can't handle?

 

[colowyo0809]

absolutely not! very much so expose them!! they will need to be exposed if they are going to survive. as long as you are giving them the probiotic and the kelp they will be able to handle most issues

 

[SmittenChicken]

As always, I learn so much from BYC! Great to hear from so many people who start on organic feed from day 1 - I wasn't comfortable doing that because I was told by all the locals I talked to that medicated feed was a "must". I'm going to go with my gut next time and put the babies on the good stuff from the start!

 

[colowyo0809]

I would caution against totally blowing off what the oldtimers have to say. Take it with a grain of salt certainly but still listen. You can use and adapt their practices to suit your needs and style. Sometimes, going with the conventional method when your a first timer is the way to go. Other times, branching out and trying something new is the way to go (or just doing it your way because your pigheadedly stubborn and refuse to give up and by some lucky goddess you manage not to kill your flock

)

 

[Organics North]

No expert here..But I am organic. I never use medicated feed and my birds get dirt at 1 week of age. Clean dirt that is! I suggest not having your birds stand around in wet poo. That is one huge first step to preventing disease and parasites...

But by all means expose them to the real world young. (This is my opinion.)
ON