Medicated vs non medicated chick starter feed: which should I get?

[leesbunny]

I used medicated feed and the chicks still got coccidiosis. So I don't waste my money on it any more. Hatching from your own eggs helps. Chicks can be vaccinated for many things. Determine what you want them vaccinated FOR. I get mine vaccinated for Marek's since it was in my flock before. But that is only if they come from a hatchery. If it is my own chicks, they do not get vaccinated for anything. The mom's take the babies right out in the pen and feed them the poo from all the other hens, which helps build up their immunities. Also, hatcheries say to give them vitamins and electolytes, which usually come together in one mix. I decided if I was giving them amprolium to block thiamine, why would I give them vitamins. So, now I do not use medicated feed. I just give them vitamins and electrolytes and keep their pen dry.

And if they should ever get coccidiosis, I know the signs, and can treat with the "magic" water as my son calls it.

 

[myfivehens]

My chicks are on medicated feed and they still got coccidiosis. I though I had a feed with amprolium in it but it turns out the feed I got had bicatracin instead. From what I understand bicatracin is an antibiotic and does not guard against cocci. I treated with medicated water and I switched to a feed with amprolium. I was going to switch to unmedicated but was a little leery since they are recovering from coccidiosis. We only lost 1 chick so I feel very fortunate. If you do get medicated I would suggest making sure it's amprolium.

 

[bj taylor]

I have never had to deal w/cocci to date (knock on wood). I give my chicks medicated through one or two 3# bags worth, then they're on flock raiser. when they were in the brooder after a couple of weeks I put a small shovel full of gritty soil into their brooder. I figured they could start building their immunities that way rather than being dumped out into the big bad world with no preparation.
i'm no expert, but no negative results from this. the chicks were totally excited about the gritty soil & worked it over.

 

[myfivehens]

I've noticed a lot of people mention putting dirt in with their chicks, next time we have baby chicks I will definitely be doing this!

 

[farmer boy]

i just bring mine outside i have been since they were just young now their oh most fully feathered ... if i don't bring mine out that day they just dust bath in their shavings or scratch around for food / treats

 

[kimthom66]

I just recently picked up 4 chicks, 3 are 4 weeks old and one is only 1 week old. They had been with other chicks including Turkeys so they have NOT been on medicated food and they are home hatched chicks so they are not vaccinated at all.
I just purchased a small bag of Organic (Non Medicated) to get them started but after reading I'm wondering since should I switch them over to medicated right away? Can I use up the small bag of no medicated first or can I just mix the medicated and no medicated together in a large bin so they get a little of both?
I had an issue with Coccidiosis last year once my flock was exposed to my flock and my run. So I want to be sure that doesn't happen again! I didn't loose any chicks but want to be safe, not sorry.

 

[iawoodchip]

Don't quote me but I'm thinking I read a post just a day or two ago where the poster treated for cocci to start with, if there was a problem or not. As I recall, treatment is only for a few days.

 

[kimthom66]

I have never had to deal w/cocci to date (knock on wood). I give my chicks medicated through one or two 3# bags worth, then they're on flock raiser. when they were in the brooder after a couple of weeks I put a small shovel full of gritty soil into their brooder. I figured they could start building their immunities that way rather than being dumped out into the big bad world with no preparation.
i'm no expert, but no negative results from this. the chicks were totally excited about the gritty soil & worked it over.

I did this last year with my chicks but they were not on medicated feed (they had been vaccinated for Marecks) but they developed coccidiosis anyway once I introduced them to my run. My problem now is I just picked up chicks that are 4 weeks old and 1 chick is only a week old and they have not been on medicated food, can I just switch them over to medicated or can I mix medicated with non medicated together so they get a little of both? Also right now my ground outside is frozen so they will not be getting clumps of dirt for awhile to be able to build up immunity.

 

[kimthom66]

The medicated is merely a blocker. The coccidosis "bug" is starved of thiamine, I believe, which prevents it from overwhelming the chick's immune system. That's all it is. It doesn't treat anything, but is used to assist the chick's immune system in battling cocci exposure.

It's a choice and a decision for the flock keeper. Some areas are rife with cocci in the soil and the chicks are dead within days of being put on the ground. Literally. Some folks never have an issue.

So perhaps feeding medicated is more appropriate once they are more exposed to the outside and the earth rather than when they are still in a safe clean brooder? It's still very much winter here and it will be a good month before my chicks see the outside maybe longer, should I feed medicated now or wait? And since I just picked them up last night and bought a small bag of organic (non-medicated) should I finish that first and the start with the medicated?