Medicated or Non Medicated Feed for Chicks?

[Susan Dye]

I bought 3 5 wk old chicks from a local breeder. He said they had been vaccinated, but I'm not sure I trust him on that. I have them quarantined and started feeding them medicated crumbles. Have had them a week now and they appear healthy but I'm wondering if it's okay once they finish this bag of medicated feed to switch them to non medicated.

 

[casportpony]

I don't feed medicated feed, but I do have Corid (amprolium) in case I need to medicate them.

 

[PirateGirl]

So the medication in medicated feed is for an entirely different ailment than anything chickens are vaccinated against. Two unrelated diseases and unrelated treatments, so don't let the vaccination they supposedly had weigh into your decision whether or not to feed medicated feed, which is to help prevent coccidiosis. It's really personal choice whether or not to feed medicated feed. They will be exposed to cocci as soon as they go outdoors (if they haven't been exposed already) and some chicks can handle the load in their systems just fine while others cannot. It is ok to switch to non-medicated feed for your next bag, just keep an eye out for any signs of coccidiosis and be prepared to treat with corid if necessary.

 

[Susan Dye]

So the medication in medicated feed is for an entirely different ailment than anything chickens are vaccinated against. Two unrelated diseases and unrelated treatments, so don't let the vaccination they supposedly had weigh into your decision whether or not to feed medicated feed, which is to help prevent coccidiosis. It's really personal choice whether or not to feed medicated feed. They will be exposed to cocci as soon as they go outdoors (if they haven't been exposed already) and some chicks can handle the load in their systems just fine while others cannot. It is ok to switch to non-medicated feed for your next bag, just keep an eye out for any signs of coccidiosis and be prepared to treat with corid if necessary.

Thanks so much. They have been outdoors since I brought them home. They have a small coop with an attached run here and had been housed with 20 to 30 chicks in a small fairly open coop at the breeders. So, lots of exposure to other chicks then and now lots of room with more exposure to the elements. They haven't gone into the coop to roost on their own yet. Have not any had medical problems with the hens, who I've had for 2 plus yrs. At this point, I'm more concerned with my laying hens getting into the medicated chick feed. You know how chickens are, they are just dying to find out what I'm feeding the babies. So far I've been able to keep them out of it, but figured the sooner I switch to non medicated the better. Glad to hear it shouldn't create any problems.

 

[PirateGirl]

The medicated chick feed won't harm your older birds either
I choose to feed flock raiser all the time to all my birds to make life easy, young, old, male, female, laying, not, ducks, chickens, it's good for everyone all the time!