medicated v. nonmedicated starter

[allen wranch]

Amprolium is the generic name for Corid. It comes in a liquid or powder. The powder is a little cheaper to buy.

 

[Sheila]

For those of you who pointed out that terramycin doesn't treat cocci, thanks. I had done an online search and discovered that too. However, I can't find anyone local who sells either of the mentioned products in a smaller size. American Livestock online has a 10-oz. pack of Amprol for about $15, but they are out, and when I called, the woman said they haven't received any in a long time.

Anyone have another site that sells it or Corid?

One of the women in a local feed store suggested that I continue with the nonmedicated feed, and if I see a problem, just switch to medicated. Opinions on that?

Chicks arrived this a.m. One casualty, but the rest are doing fine. I have them in an enclosed breezeway that is pretty darned warm already, so I am also hoping that starting them in mid-summer will help deter illness.


Thanks again.

 

[frankensusan]

Oooh! Medicated vs NonMedicated.

I had my chicks vaccinated (coccidia and mercks(sp?)).
I have them on starter non-medicated feed so it won't ruin the vaccination for coccidia - as per the hatchery's memo.

Do I have to have non-medicated feed for their whole life?

They're 2 weeks old tomorrow-ish.

Thanks all!

Susan

 

[allen wranch]

Medicated feed does not treat cocci. It helps the chicks build an immunity against it. However, there are several different kinds of cocci, and sometimes chicks get sick even on medicated feed.

Coccidiosis is a serious disease and needs aggressive treatment when discovered.

There was a shortage of Corid a couple of years ago too. The manfacturer only makes a certain amount each year, and when it is gone, they don't start production of it until it is on their schedule again.

It is expensive. If you know someone that has the liquid, you might be able to buy a little from them. That is what I had to do when the manufacturer was out.

Have you tried Tractor Supply or a local feed store ? They sometimes carry it.

 

[Sheila]

Carla,

I've tried all the local feed stores. There is a Tractor Supply some distance from here, and I'll call them. Just moved to MA from MT so am driving with a map under my nose.

What did you think of the idea of switching to medicated feed at the sign of a problem?

 

[Sheila]

Been on the phone, and no one has Corid/Amprol. I guess my next question is should I buy Sulmet? It seems to be a little rougher on the birds, but I would feel better have something on hand. All comments appreciated.

 

[silkiechicken]

Oh, just in case. Corid is the trade name for amprolium, which is the proper name for amprol. Sulmet is harder and there is a withdrawal time so if you can't get amprol, get that for emergences.

 

[greyfields]

I love debating this question. I lose a lot of chickens to cocci. My first batch this spring, I lost over 25% of my meat birds.... and comparing notes with my neighbors, I did better than some people. I sell my meat birds marketed as no antiobiotic, so I already precluded myself from using the medicated stuff. However, on breeding animals which are not to be eaten or are not pregnant (goats and ewes), I use a coccidiostat. I've lost goats to Cocci trying to be "natural". It seemed like a great loss in hindsight that they died becasue I was being proud. Afterall, they weren't meant to be eaten.

Back to chickens. As the spring dries into summer, I lose far fewer birds to it. If you get meat birds in Spring, you'll lose more to it. If breeding your own meat birds, you would want to hold back the ones who seemed to grow best with the least issues. Selective breeding is really your only alternative to coccidiostats; at least the only sustainable alternative. I live in a wet area with wet soils. Cocci thrives here. No good management, clean litter/water, fresh grass daily will prevent it. I recall my extension agent laughing out loud when I told her "I though if I just kept good care of my meat birds, moved them daily, kept them healthy, I'd have no problem". I was frankly naive.

I currently have 50 freedom rangers out on grass at 4 weeks of age. I haven't lost a single one to disease yet. By this time, I bet 10 cornish X's would have dropped dead. The weather has been better, so it's a little like comparing apples to oranges. However, I think in the long run, I'll be staying away from the cornish X's.

 

[Sheila]

We just moved into this rental, and I had no idea we would find one where we could have chickens, and where there would be an existing coop. It is very sturdy, but not large. My son is thinking of pushing out the back wall and adding nesting boxes as an extension.

Maybe because we did start late, we'll have better luck. I had a farm in the 70s/80s, and I can't remember all the details. Had all the animals and also used meds for breeding stock but not for meat animals. Maybe I didn't mention, but these chicks are RIRs for eggs.

I always had more animals than I should have. One year the capons and turkeys spent a lot of their time in the lower branches of fir trees.

 

[allen wranch]

Switching to medicated feed when you see a problem is too late.

Medicated feed does not treat coccidiosis. The medication in medicated feed is low dose amprolium which is not an antibiotic, but is a thiamine blocker. There is only enough amprolium in the feed to help the chicks build up a natural immunity to the disease.

Coccidia need thiamin to thrive so by blocking it, the little bugs can't multiply to numbers that can harm the birds.