Medicated or non-medicated chick starter?

[William Mellor15]

I'm sorry, I didn't even take into consideration other countries! Amprolium is the only coccidiastat used in poultry in the US that I'm aware of.

Oh XD LOL cuz i'm in Australia XD (And i don't say G'day as much as i should )

 

[Tallulahbelle]

Hi Welcome To BYC!

For a beginner its best to start the chicks on medicated. Definitely if you're worried that other chickens may have lived there before (unless they're already Vaccinated). Young chickens are extremely susceptible to Coccidiosis and a few other diseases because their immune system is not strong enough at such a young age, not to say that its possible to raise hens without medicated food, I've just never actually tried it. Medicated feeds usually contain 'sodium salinomycin' or 'lasalocid sodium' to help treat and prevent coccidiosis. Personally, I wouldn't feed my chicks non-medicated feed, but really its totally up to you. Here's a helpful video that explains everything:

And Yes, you're eggs will still be organic As long as you feed them laying hen food instead of the previous food 2 weeks before they lay (usually at around 18-24 weeks) Note; at 6-8 weeks they should be on Pullet feed, NOT chick starter.

Thank you

Hi Welcome To BYC!

For a beginner its best to start the chicks on medicated. Definitely if you're worried that other chickens may have lived there before (unless they're already Vaccinated). Young chickens are extremely susceptible to Coccidiosis and a few other diseases because their immune system is not strong enough at such a young age, not to say that its possible to raise hens without medicated food, I've just never actually tried it. Medicated feeds usually contain 'sodium salinomycin' or 'lasalocid sodium' to help treat and prevent coccidiosis. Personally, I wouldn't feed my chicks non-medicated feed, but really its totally up to you. Here's a helpful video that explains everything:

And Yes, you're eggs will still be organic As long as you feed them laying hen food instead of the previous food 2 weeks before they lay (usually at around 18-24 weeks) Note; at 6-8 weeks they should be on Pullet feed, NOT chick starter.

Thank you for the warm welcome and for the advice! Much appreciated!

 

[Tallulahbelle]

I do not believe the eggs will be considered organic if the chicks are fed medicated feed, but I'd need to do more research on that. Here's a summary of medicated vs. nonmedicated feed. Medicated feed is basically just feed that contains the coccidiostat Amprolium. Coccidiostats are not medications that will necessarily kill the coccidia protozoa, but they will weaken them and help prevent deadly infections. It is recommended to feed chicks that have not been vaccinated medicated feed as yes, they are prone to contracting it from the soil, and their immune systems are often not strong enough to fight off the infection. Now, if you have had your chicks vaccinated, you should NOT feed the chicks medicated feed. This is because the vaccine is a modified-live vaccine. Basically, chicks that are vaccinated are exposed to live but weakened coccidia. This builds the chicks' immune systems up by allowing them to fight the protozoa without becoming overwhelmed, as well as allowing the white blood cells to recognize and thus have a faster response time should coccidia enter the bird again. When you feed amprolium to a chick that has been vaccinated, you are going to end up killing off the weakened coccidia, which makes the vaccine useless. So, while it won't necessarily hurt the bird, it is a waste of money. If you're worried about coccidia but want to be sure to be organic, there are organic chick feeds that the producers claim help prevent deadly coccidiosis outbreaks. I personally have never tried them so I cannot attest to that. I hope this helps!

Thank you!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
For @FeatheredFriends&Horses2 , and everyone on this thread; it would be best to actually look up what's approved organic, and what's not, before posting wrong information. The FARAD.org website has amprolium as an approved drug in the USA and the UK.
As a new chick owner, the safe plan is to feed the amprolium medicated feed, if you are in the USA.
And chicks can be vaccinated for different things! Marek's vaccine is a good idea, and amprolium is not relevant to that. Coccidiosis 'vaccine' is the issue with amprolium; one day on the medicated feed wipes out it's effectiveness.
Here we buy Marek's vaccinated chicks, and stopped feeding medicated chick starter, because of having years of no problems with coccidiosis. (Crossing fingers that one year this will no be a terrible idea!)
Our entire flock, chick to seniors, eats an all-flock diet, Flock Raiser, with separate oyster shell for the actively laying hens.
When you buy feed, look at the mill date on each bag!!! It should be within a month or six weeks, and used up within two or at most three months of that mill date, for best vitamins and freshness. Old feed is not a good thing!
Mary

 

[casportpony]

ts possible to raise hens without medicated food, I've just never actually tried it. Medicated feeds usually contain 'sodium salinomycin' or 'lasalocid sodium' to help treat and prevent coccidiosis.

Here in the US, most medicated feeds contain amprolium.

 

[Tallulahbelle]

Welcome!
For @FeatheredFriends&Horses2 , and everyone on this thread; it would be best to actually look up what's approved organic, and what's not, before posting wrong information. The FARAD.org website has amprolium as an approved drug in the USA and the UK.
As a new chick owner, the safe plan is to feed the amprolium medicated feed, if you are in the USA.
And chicks can be vaccinated for different things! Marek's vaccine is a good idea, and amprolium is not relevant to that. Coccidiosis 'vaccine' is the issue with amprolium; one day on the medicated feed wipes out it's effectiveness.
Here we buy Marek's vaccinated chicks, and stopped feeding medicated chick starter, because of having years of no problems with coccidiosis. (Crossing fingers that one year this will no be a terrible idea!)
Our entire flock, chick to seniors, eats an all-flock diet, Flock Raiser, with separate oyster shell for the actively laying hens.
When you buy feed, look at the mill date on each bag!!! It should be within a month or six weeks, and used up within two or at most three months of that mill date, for best vitamins and freshness. Old feed is not a good thing!
Mary

Thank you so much! This was very helpful information!

 

[FlipFlopFarmer6279]

Welcome to BYC! If your chicks are vaccinated for Mareks Disease you don't need medicated.

 

[FlipFlopFarmer6279]

Welcome to BYC! If your chicks are vaccinated for Mareks Disease you don't need medicated

At least thats what I heard.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

Hi. I am brand new to raising chicks. I am getting my chicks in a few days and I need some advice on whether to go with medicated or non-medicated starter feed. I've read differing opinions and I'm more confused now than before researching. I live on a rural, wooded property (new to us) that has a lot of wildlife. I don't know if there were chickens here previously, but there are many birds and critters. It is my understanding the coccidia is spread through feces of animals and that chickens will indeed eat the feces of other animals. My initial gut feeling is to feed medicated for that reason. But my second question is, if the chicks are fed medicated food, will our future eggs be organic? Any insight or advice would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

My MIL recommended getting a clump of dirt with some grass so like sod and putting that in with the baby chicks *dirt side up* she said it starts them out on getting good bacteria’s from the soil. She’s been raising chickens for 10+ years and always does this instead of medicated chicken food. I’m also new to this so that’s just my newbie advice from a seasoned chick raiser. She’s raised over 100+ chickens as a backyard hobby.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

Welcome to BYC! If your chicks are vaccinated for Mareks Disease you don't need medicated.

Are chicks from TSC vaccinated? I’ve haven’t heard about having chick vaccinated but I’m new to this as well.