medicated chick starter for meat birds?

[thespinningcottage]

Hi, we will be raising meat birds from our flock of mixed dual purpose birds. I received some great information on another thread about protein levels for raising them, but wondered if the feed should also be medicated. They will be in the brooder for 5 weeks or until fully feathered, then they'll be in an outside run/coop until processing time. The meat will be for our family only, so I don't care about calling it "all natural" or "organic" or what-not, I just want it to be safe for my family. Thanks!

 

[LarryPQ]

I would use medicated, at least at first. You could cut down on expensive losses, and by the time you process, it will be out of theyir systems.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I see they are mixed dual purpose, not Cornish Crosses. The way they are poop factories, I'd say yes for the Cornish Crosses, but for dual purpose birds it is not as important. It still will not hurt and may help.

 

[karl E lutz]

personally I have not used any at all.My cornish rocks did fine without it. my layers have never had any antibio's yet either.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Most medicated feed is not antibiotic. It is an Amprolium product which inhibits the protazoa that causes cocci from reproducing in the chicks digestive system. Inhibits but does not stop it reproducing so they can still get immunity.

 

[NYREDS]

Medicated chick starter is NOT medicated with antibiotics it contains a Coccidiostat, usually Amprollium. Sometimes you can raise a group of chicks on nonmedicated feed & not have a problem. However, Coccidiosis develops quickly & if untreated is usually 100% fatal. If you get infected chicks on a treatment medication in time you can generally save them but sometimes the damage done to the gut results in birds that don't grow well. I would think this would be a particular concern with birds that are intended for meat.
Another option for you would be to put them on 1/2 strength Amprollium in their water for the first week they are on the ground but I'd certainly recommend one or the other.

 

[thespinningcottage]

Thank you all so much! The rooster is a BCM and the hens are BR, EE, and BCM. I think I like your advice of having them on one method or the other for a little while at least, in order to give them a better start. Also, I don't want to risk illness being contracted by my laying flock (the chick's parents) even though they will be separated by a full acre. Thanks again!

 

[TimG]

Is MOS in the same category? It is used in Poulin Grains and is described as:

MOS: Is a natural product containing Mannonoligosahrides and Beta Glucans. These natural compounds help to prevent infection and spread of disease-causing bacteria by natural stimulation of the animals immune system and binding toxins.​

 

[petrelline]

For my DP birds I use medicated feed up to about 5-6 weeks (whenever I run out of a bag) and then switch to normal broiler/gamebird feed. I've heard you don't need medicated feed if you are scrupulously clean with your bedding and waterers -- but if you slip up cocci can be hard to control once it starts. For me it's simple insurance. Also the only non-medicated feed I can get is organic and a lot more expensive. If I switch to organic feed overall at some point that would be fine but right now I can't justify it.

 

[thespinningcottage]

Thanks! I give myself a B+ on cleanliness. There's almost always at least one day of the week that the waterers just get a swish and not a scrub. I think I'd better go with the bag of medicated. I like your plan of just going through the one bag. How many chicks do you raise at a time? We'll probably do a dozen.