Medicated vs. non- medicated feed

[ThinkingChickens]

When I got my chickens I thought the breeder told me to feed the girls medicated feed until four months and then I could switch to unmedicated and/or organic. Is this correct? Or, can I just use organic now and not the medicated. I want my girls to eat well and organic feed doesn't seem that expensive. I just want to make sure as it's possible I heard wrong. I was in such a rush to get my girls and get them home (long, long drive) that I may have missed something.

 

[Judy]

Personal choice. The med (amprolium) is not an antibiotic, only helps them build their natural resistance to cocci. I prefer medicated.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have done it both ways.

I have had coccidiosis in a flock immediately after switching from medicated feed to non-medicated. I actually had to give two rounds of Corid to completely get rid of it.

Now I refuse to feed GMO soy, so I only buy organic unmedicated chick starter. No coccidiosis. Yay!

I just keep Corid in the cabinet so I can whip it out in a jiffy if any coccidiosis occurs. Hasn't happened since that first time. (And I have been raising lots of batches of chicks since then.)

 

[chickened]

If your chicks don't survive the #1 killer of chicks (cocci) feeding organic won't matter much. I feed medicated up to 8 weeks.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

My girls are already 1.5 months, well two months now. So, are they already resistant or? I am about to buy food again so I thought it was a good time to ask. I'm glad to hear others use medicated and it's not going to be bad for my eggs. =0)

 

[ella]

Quote:
Ditto.

Amprolium is a modified B vitamin, not any kind of antibiotic. Google amprolium and coccidiosis and make your own decision.

Personally I use medicated feed until they start laying eggs.

 

[chickened]

Igo about 8 weeks then switch gradually it works best for me at this schedule. I usually watch for early signs of cocci after switching though. Most are resistant after 8 weeks.
Quote:

 

[gryeyes]

Well, just remember to continue to feed the youngsters medicated feed after they are actually outside living "on the ground." They can't build resistance to anything they haven't encountered. I mention this because I made that mistake, changing them to regular (all purpose, not layer) feed at 8 weeks like usual, but didn't have them outside for another 3 weeks due to lodging issues.

I lost 8 chickens very fast - VERY fast. Put the flock on Corrid-V, everybody but two of the youngsters (there were about 22 chicks in that batch) perked right up and got better. Those two died within the next two days.

Now I keep Corrid-V on hand AND I remember to feed the medicated feed for at least two weeks once they're on the ground in their grow-out coops.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Thanks for the advice guys! Mine have been outside for 2 weeks, two days are are 2 months. I think I'll keep them on the medicated until they start egg laying since it's just B12. I was so worried I was feeding them something awful. I'll also google warning sighs of coccidiosis so I know what to watch out for. There's just three chickens so I'd be so super bummed if one of them died. I'm trying hard to be a good chicken raiser!

 

[GreenGables]

I haven't used medicated feed yet. My first flock was 3 birds, a year later added 2 birds, and now another year later added 2 more. So far I haven't had any problems other than predators, hawks.