medicated water vs medicated feed

[lady feathers]

I don't use medicated feed or give them medications unless there IS a problem and I don't vaccinate my chicks either! I think animals have to have a chance to build up a natural immunity... in my opinion they will be stronger and healthier in the end (sometimes they aren't/weren't supposed to make it). That may sound harsh, and that doesn't mean an animal is made to suffer, but it's just part of raising livestock! I an animal is seriously sick or injured then I make a decision as to what should be done. Good luck with your decision.

 

[OpalRaven7]

This has all been so helpful! Thank you so much

I got 4 little blue silkies yestday which I am keeping at my friends house, she got chicks too, but also has grown chickens out in the coop. The chicks are inside all together (quite the varied little flock) and seem good. Today I will go and try to find some dirt outside to give them, I will have to let it dry out 1st as its been raining here.

 

[speckledhen]

Your climate also has an effect on whether or not you see cocci often. In the soupy south, it's very common, but not so much out in Arizona and similar locales.

 

[sonjab314]

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Got to love all that hot humid weather

 

[patti'speeps]

I am a team leader at our local TSC and I have been referred to as the "Chicken Lady", lol. I incubate, hatch, and raise all my own birds, from ringneck pheasant, bobwhite quail, peafowl,guineas, and more breeds of bantams than I can count. I never and I mean never recommend medication to chicks unless there is a reason for it. Now, vitamins and electrolytes I think is a good thing for the first few days bc of the stress of shipping. I don't like the fact that the only Purina chick starter we carry is medicated. I always recommend the Dumor 20% chick starter for chickens and the 24% for turkeys, ducks and gamebirds. I do wish we carried a higher percentage chick starter for the gamebirds. Sorry, got off point a little there. Anyway, you should apply the same rule of thumb for your animals you would for yourself. You wouldn't take an antibiotic if you weren't sick would you?

 

[Wildflower_VA]

patti'speeps :

I am a team leader at our local TSC and I have been referred to as the "Chicken Lady", lol. I incubate, hatch, and raise all my own birds, from ringneck pheasant, bobwhite quail, peafowl,guineas, and more breeds of bantams than I can count. I never and I mean never recommend medication to chicks unless there is a reason for it. Now, vitamins and electrolytes I think is a good thing for the first few days bc of the stress of shipping. I don't like the fact that the only Purina chick starter we carry is medicated. I always recommend the Dumor 20% chick starter for chickens and the 24% for turkeys, ducks and gamebirds. I do wish we carried a higher percentage chick starter for the gamebirds. Sorry, got off point a little there. Anyway, you should apply the same rule of thumb for your animals you would for yourself. You wouldn't take an antibiotic if you weren't sick would you?

I sure wish you worked at the Staunton or Lexington VA store!​

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Patti's Peeps has great advice. I feed Dumor 20% for the same reason, unmedicated. 24% for meat birds.

Sorry I haven't read all posts but
Medicated chick starter contains a Cocciostat and sometimes something else to boost the first. Cocciodosis is everywhere but they can acquire immunity to it and most other baddies.
"medicated" water refers to an antibiotic you would add to water to treat some other malady like worms or an infection.

I never use medicated feed or have chicks vaccinated.
Cocciodosis becomes a problem if feeders are allowed to empty or bedding is allowed to get wet.
Put waterer higher and replace bedding when wet. Keep feeders at least half full.

Proper temperature for age, balanced feed, clean water 24/7. I've lost lots to predators, a couple to pasty butt but never to anything else.

 

[GhostRider65]

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Absolutely wrong, sorry. Antibiotics don't stave off illness. Why treat healthy birds for weeks with antibiotics that will mess up their good gut flora? That is the worst thing you can do to a healthy bird, the worst. Antibiotics will not stop coccidiosis, which is not caused by bacteria, but a protozoan. Do you take antibiotics on a daily basis to keep from getting sick? Think about it-does that even make sense, really?

Antibiotics given to birds when they are at the age to most likely get cocci, which ravages the intestines like antibiotics do, could actually kill the chicks! Antibiotics treat bacteria, not viruses, not protozoans, same as with humans.

And TSC is doing harm with that ridiculous recommendation. The reason you haven't lost any chicks is because they were healthy in the first place, not because of unnecessary antibiotics--I don't lose chicks, either, and I never, ever give antibiotics to them, not ever.

Please, please stop the antibiotics, folks. The information you were given was flat-out wrong.

I've never seen medicated feed any higher priced than non-medicated feed, not from Purina, not from Southern States, not Buckeye, not ADM Alliance, not Tucker Milling. All are the same around here. If it is more expensive where you are, you can certainly feed non-medicated and watch for signs of cocci, then treat with Corid, which is a high concentration of the amprolium in medicated feed.

I want to make it clear that I am not angry with the folks who posted this, just the bad advice they were given, but this is one of my pet peeves so I am very passionate about it.

This post is 110% correct, antibiotics are not needed and can actually do harm to your babies if they are not sick. Please stop treating them asap, Good grief now the drs. work at TSC?? how insane is that. Kim

 

[GhostRider65]

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No actually they don't I have given mine only organic unmedicated feed and all my babies are healthy, my neighbor does not use it either and she has chicks most of the year.... I don't believe they need meds if they are not sick..........Kim

 

[GhostRider65]

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You guys are all so very smart I love this board!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!