Medicated or Unmedicated??? That is the question!

[4everfarmgirl]

Should we feed out chicks and adult chichens medicated or unmedicated food?? We do not eat our chickens at all so that is not a factor. We also, right now aren't eating the eggs. What the heck is the difference??? When I went to get some feed for the first time, I was overwhelmed by all the different types of food. What should get what? Should I just medicate them for cocci in their water??? Could someone please enlighten me with some info!
Thanks

 

[KellyHM]

Feeding medicated food is (in my opinion) a lot easier than putting the meds in the water. It just helps to make sure they don't get overburdened by cocci.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

basically feeding medication for coccidiosis will only cause the chickens system to become immuned to the value of the coccidiosis meds

then the medicated check and see it is amproylium that is in the feed and not a medication for respratory disease
manna pro has one with neomycin in it

I don't see the need to feed the high protein that is in starter to laying hens
and you are not eating eggs but wasting money on a feed not designed for layers

the grower and starter will have the amp[roylium in it and be higher protein

so just buy the layer feed and feed them that

the most important thing is
2 tbsp of ACV to gallon of water to make the gut flora that fights disease better

any questions email me

 

[Judy]

I would not raise baby chicks on anything but chick feed medicated with amprolium. It is not an antibiotic. It controls cocci by interfering with their growth, while the chickens are developing a natural immunity. Some people are having chicks get sick even on medicated feed, and having to treat for cocci. Cocci are everywhere in the soil and can kill young chicks.

Mature birds, however, do not need medicated feed. Layer or flock raiser is fine for them. I'm referring to birds who are laying or full grown.

 

[Stephen in SoKY]

The longer you have poultry, the more important medicated feed is to chicks. I keep Cocci-Rid on hand in case the feedstore runs out of medicated or I simply want to raise chicks on my feed mill ration. Adults shouldn't need any medicated feed in the routine course of things. Here, only chicks get amprollium medicated feed.

 

[speckledhen]

The reality is that medicated feed doesn't necessarily prevent cocci, at least at the dosage in starter. I have to treat every group that hits the ground with Corid anyway, in spite of medicated feed. In fact, I dont care if my feed is medicated anymore since I have to use Corid (concentrated Amprolium) anyway.

 

[ksalvagno]

What is the dosage for Corid in the water for chickens? I already have Corid for my other livestock so that would be great just to use that.

 

[Beekissed]

It depends on if you are building a flock or just keeping some chickens from dying while you own them. If you are building a flock, then regular feed and judicious culling of any weak birds, without the crutch of medications, is the ticket. Healthy immune systems are the only real defense against any disease.

If you are just keeping some chickens and you don't want any to get sick or die, then medication is the way to go. Of course, this doesn't keep them from getting sick or dying, but it will make you feel much better about your efforts if they do.

I don't use medications and haven't had any sicken and only one die, but she had a blood clot in her pulmonary artery, so I guess that doesn't really count.

Starting chicks out with an unnatural chemical in their feed or water doesn't allow them to develop a normal immune system. Raising a bird with a fragile immune system is like waiting for the other shoe to fall.

It would be interesting to take a poll on here of all the people who post about illnesses in their flock and find out how many of those folks started out with vaccines, medicated feeds, antibiotics, etc.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Hmmm, i have never used medicated feed. I have only had 2 batches of chicks so far. I am only keeping 20 pullets here and then there is a small meat pen that will be used once or twice a year. . I am so new at this that im not sure what to do. I have DE but still havent used it and i have not wormed or given any medications. The coop is new and the sand run is new, what should i start doing or using to protect my girls and give them a good life? I would hate to lose any of them due to ignorance. My chicks are 12 weeks, 10 weeks and 8 weeks old.

Thanks

 

[julietree]

I'm confused on the whole medication thing. This is my first batch of raising hens. I have 5 and they are 8 weeks old. The first three weeks they were on the medicated chick starter. Then my feed store guy told me I should switch to Nutrina layer feed. I was concerned that it was for birds 22 weeks and older and not medicated, but he insisted that it was fine. If they were going to get sick they would have already...

All my girls are healthy. But I'm still concerned and maybe will mix in half and half medicated feed... Still up in the air. comments appreciated.