medicated feed?

[chicchick]

Hi - I hear I should use medicated feed for preventing coccidiosis. This may be a dumb question, but if I use medicated feed are the eggs not organic? What are the pros and cons? Thanks for helping me out on this.

 

[Picco]

Medicated feed is not needed if your flock is well taken care of. Making sure fresh food and water are given daily and cleaning waterers with bleach regularly will significantly reduce any danger of coccidiosis. Making sure bedding is changed regularly helps too. Medicated feed came about for use in the large poultry industry where the birds are often kept in sub prime conditions and where coccidiosis and other diseases can quickly become a problem. On a small scale basis you do not need medicated feed.

Organic eggs come from chickens fed organic feed (feed coming from plants and animals grown according to certain regulations where chemical fertilizer and pesticides cannot be used). Most feeds are not organic, those that are are typically quite expensive in comparison, but are more healthy for the people who eat the eggs and for the environment. Medicated feed cannot be classified as organic as the medication used is a chemical additive.

I try not to use medicated feed as it is unnecessary. Occasionally I do purchase a bag as it is sometimes cheaper or more available. I only use medicated feed for chicks however; I try to avoid any chemicals when it comes to my layers as I don't want my family consuming anything with drug residue. With my many years of raising chickens I have never had a problem with coccidiosis.