medicated vs. umedicated... what do you feed??? Why??? Poll

[amartinlb]

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That's exactly what I am/planning-on doing... I'm going to switch my older chicks (3-7 weeks old now) to organic grower feed by the weekend...

 

[Fancie]

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Who knew there was so much to chickens... they get wormed???

can I buy that stuff threw ideal??? Or Farm and fleet??

Maybe I should feed a half and half mix... medicated and unmedicated

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Of course. Thats basic poultry knowledge.

 

[oldchickenman]

i feed nomedacated i feel th chicks build strong immune systems oh there own, and plain water.

 

[HilltopFarm]

I'm new to chickens but I am feeding them medicated until 8 weeks old or so then swith to regular feed.

 

[Autumn Mama]

No meds in our feed, and so far no cocci with the chooks...

 

[Judy]

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I agree with the vaccine analogy. Either way, the amount that is even added to the feed to me appears almost neglible how little of it is actually present...

And I just checked and you are right Amprolium is just a Coccidiostat, I don't know why I thought it was an anti-biotic...

-Anna

I think this post tells it all. I live in a wet and humid area, and assume cocci are prevalent. So I feed medicated starter. They will develop their own immunity if they live long enough to do so. It is not at all the same as giving an antibiotic willy-nilly, as Amprolium is not an antibiotic.

 

[Ol'FashionHen]

I did feed medicated with my new birds that I brooded, but I do not feed medicated to my chicks that my hens hatch and brood themselves because of course all my biddies want to try the chick feed so I do not want anything passing through their eggs. And I do put a lil apple cider vinegar in all chooks water. MMMmm tasty.

 

[spottedtail]

Non-medicated. No need for it.
Chicks are vaccinated and living quarters are kept sanitary.

spot

 

[deerman]

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I totally agree with this. However, I did vaccinate my children against common childhood illnesses, except for the pertussis vaccine which my daughter couldn't have.
The medication in medicated chick starter is alot like a vaccine. It doesn't cure anything. It aids in keeping the coccidiosis from overwhelming their systems and helps them develop immunity at the same time.

That is why to feed a medicated starter, just like a vaccination.
If an area is heavy with coccidiosis you will lose alot of chicks, if not you may get by without it.
This is also the reason I raise poults and peachicks on wire the first weeks.