Medicated starter feed

[Shasta7678]

Should i be feeding medicated starter feed to my 4 week old chicks? I’ve been feeding non medicated.

 

[Chicalina]

I always do. Many don't. I believe prevention is better than cure, especially when coccidiosis kills.

 

[Ryguy3684]

I use medicated feed as well, for the same reason as @Chicalina. I actually find it most important once you start letting your chicks outside, or you move them into their run. The reason is, that's when they are first introduced to the soil where coccidiosis parasites live. The low dose Amprolium, in the medicated feed, won't kill the parasites, but it will weaken the parasites, so that your chicks bodies can learn to fight it on their own. Once they are used to the cocci in your soil, they will be equipped to keep it in check on their own.

 

[Shasta7678]

I always do. Many don't. I believe prevention is better than cure, especially when coccidiosis kills.

Thank you

 

[Shasta7678]

I use medicated feed as well, for the same reason as @Chicalina. I actually find it most important once you start letting your chicks outside, or you move them into their run. The reason is, that's when they are first introduced to the soil where coccidiosis parasites live. The low dose Amprolium, in the medicated feed, won't kill the parasites, but it will weaken the parasites, so that your chicks bodies can learn to fight it on their own. Once they are used to the cocci in your soil, they will be equipped to keep it in check on their own.

Thank you.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The alternative is to bring the outside in, with a small amount of soil from the yard, to expose them to a small dose of whatever parasites might be in the soil.