Medicated or non-medicated food.........

[mylulusmom]

OOPS...

" you will destroy the vaccine".

 

[DaughterOfEve]

Medicated or non medicated is a personal choice. Some use antibiotics on their animals all the time, others believe it is not healthy in the long run. Another concern is if you are feeding more than chickens. If you feed ducks, geese, chickens etc. you will certainly NOT want to use medicated. I only medicate on an as needed only basis. If a hen is sick I give meds by mouth from a dropper to the sick hen only. That may be more work than some want to deal with.

 

[goldminer1976]

I use medicated for the first few weeks (4) and then transition over to non-medicated, haven't had any issues yet. I keep the flocks separate until they are at least 24 weeks old then start to integrate slowly by moving the new flock next to the other with wire between. Good diet, sunshine and lots of fresh air will solve a lot of the problems we have with our birds. Does sunshine touch all areas of your outside coop for at least 30 minutes per day, if not consider the benefits it offers in killing disease.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Call me crazy, Ive Never used medicated food before and this time I did, after a couple weeks I have a silkie baby that can't walk and can't stand, Im Sure it has nothing to do with the food but Ive many babies over the years and Never had this happen and Ive never used medicated before or this brand. He was healthy and happy and overnight he can't even stand up and his legs are bad....

 

[catchthewind]

I feed non-medicated. I can get a really good, locally-milled, non-GMO feed with whole food sources of vitamins and minerals instead of synthetic, and I personally feel the benefits of a good food outweigh potential benefits from medicated. I also am not sold on the benefits of medicated feed anyway. I've read many stories of people whose chicks got sick anyway, and I would rather my chicks build up a strong, healthy immune system on their own.

That being said, my chicks actually do have Coccidiosis and I lost one yesterday. The rest seem to be okay. Next time, I will have medication on hand just in case (I couldn't find any so wasn't able to treat them right away), and I would put dirt in their brooder from very young so that their first venture outside isn't the first time they are exposed to all the germs. I still wouldn't feed medicated feed though. I would rather medicate them as needed than medicate "just in case". I also wonder since the medication in the feed is Amprolium and the most recommended medication is Amprolium if the chicks that do get Cocci anyway are more likely to be resistant to the Amprolium, meaning the harsher stuff would have to be used. If I had breeding stock, I'd probably be even more selective about medications because I would want to breed the healthiest, strongest chicks only anyway.