Need an Answer about Feed

[Lanissa86]

Went to the Feed store Today and asked for nonmedicated Chick Starter. Well I get home and notice the Big Red Tag! But, it said Pullet Grower... My question is, Can I feed this to my Flock which contains 1 Laying Hen. I heard you are not suppose to give laying Hens anything Medicated. Of course, she has yet to give me an Egg in about a week..and I am treating all my Birds with Terramycin, So If I do get an Egg we won't eat it anyway...but Can I give her medicated Feed?

 

[keljonma]

I am confused about your setup....

Is this a hen with chicks she just hatched that you are trying to feed?

Why are you giving them the terramycin?

 

[Lanissa86]

Ok. The Hen is with Pullets that are 14 weeks old now. I do have 2 5 week olds in a seperate pen, so I have been buying nonmedicated chick starter to feed them all and offering the older girl Oyster Shell for her calcium. I am treating them because I bought 2 new birds that started sneezing and coughing when I brought them home, so treating to see if they get better....

 

[Wildsky]

Your post is confusing - BIG RED TAG? Whats that mean? does it say MEDICATED? I wouldn't feed medicated to an older chicken.

 

[Lanissa86]

Yes, its medicated..

 

[keljonma]

Quote:
Gottcha..... you are feeding your entire flock the same feed.

You could contact the feed mill and tell them of the error and find out if they have non-medicated in stock for a switch.

It is okay for the 14 week old pullets and your laying hen to be getting the same feed plus oyster shell. We had pullets lay eggs at 16 and 18 weeks, so 14 weeks is not too soon to provide oyster shell for them.

The 5 week old chicks are okay getting the grower feed. We used a start & grow type feed through 14 weeks of age with our first flock; but that was because it was just easier than trying to figure out when to change feeds.

We feed our mama hens and chicklettes medicated flock raiser from hatch until they go back to the hen house. Then mama gets non-medicated layer mash and the growing chicks get the flock raiser until they are about 14 weeks old.

Quote:
You should always quarantine any new additions to your flock for 30 days for this reason. So are you treating 2 new birds? OR are you giving your entire flock terramycin?

I don't use terramycin, so am not sure there, but I would think they'd be fine with the medicated feed.

 

[Lanissa86]

Thank you SO much Keljonma! Well, since I am in the city, I have a small backyard so I did not have anywhere to quarantine them. Talked to some people and they said to just give the whole flock the meds, it will make the sick ones fight off whatever they have and help mine as well from getting it. So Far it seems to be working great, the new ones are not coughing/sneezing anymore and its only been 3 Days I have been using it. Again, Thank you.