Poll of sorts - medicated or non-medicated, and why?

[miss_jayne]

i stick to non-medicated. i don't want a weak flock. survival of the fittest around here.

that being said, i don't think it's 'wrong' to do it differently. everyone makes personal choices with their livestock husbandry.

 

[al6517]

I can only get medicated poultry feed in my area, and I would switch if they carried it. I think it is mainly because they can't spell medicated, sorry I am in SW Oklahoma here. They don't to much care for that fancy book learnin here. LOL yeah you think I am joking!!!right.

AL

 

[dancingbear]

I never feed medicated. It's just not necessary, and I don't want the drugs in my food.

 

[CovenantCreek]

Quote:
I used to sell Tahitian Noni Juice, which is a blend of Tahitian noni, blueberry, and Concord grape juices -- while much of the benefits of the juice come from the noni juice, blueberry and grape juices are incredibly high in antioxidants.

Just going by what I learned while selling the Noni, I figured it can't hurt chicks to give them something chickens would normally eat (fruit) in a form that doesn't need to be ground up in the crop (juice), and a good blend of juices could provide nutrients that might be marginal in the chick starter (vitamins, antioxidants). In addition to giving them some of the leftover Noni juice, I've also used Ocean Spray 100% Juice Cran-Blueberry, which is a blend of cranberry, blueberry, grape and apple juices. I have no evidence that it does any good, but a lot of confidence that if fruits are good for grown chickens the juice probably has some benefit for the chicks. Because the juice is sweet and the chicks might be tempted to drink it more than their plain water, I usually mix it with water trying to keep at least 50-67% water. I have 23 six week old Leghorn pullets who drain a 32 oz bottle in no time flat. To make sure they get enough water I don't refill it immediately.

If nothing else, they're spoiled.

 

[cluckychick]

We use medicated due to the fact that it's all that is available at our feed store for new chicks. I feed this till they are 12-15 or so weeks and they go in with the big girls and start on layer feed.

 

[becky3086]

I haven't the slightest idea whether it is medicated or non-medicated.

 

[Beekissed]

Nonmedicated~ for the obvious reasons. I also go out of my way to purchase feed that has no animal by-products in it. Its not more expensive than the other foods, I just have to drive a little farther to get the plain ol' feed that hasn't been "fortified" with medicine or chopped up animal residue.

Organic? Like Al, I live where men are men and sheep are scared....they wouldn't know organic if it leaped up and bit them in the armpit!

 

[ssledoux]

Well, I've been pricing organic feed - it's nearly obscene how much they charge. Actually, it is obscene by the time you add shipping costs to it (which is what I'd have to do). It's double the price of anything local (and I'm paying $12-$15/50#), and the shipping was as much, if not a little more, than the feed.

At least now I know why Whole Foods asks such a pretty penny for their organic chicken!

 

[dadof4]

We feed non-medicated. The only place I can find it is at TSC, everybody else seems to carry medicated. I haven't had any problems to date and we don't want the drugs in our food. My son also seems to do better with them as he has a hard time processing out things.

 

[patandchickens]

I used nonmedicated for my CornishX last year and intend to do the same this year (planning one batch of red broilers and one batch of CornishX)... I expect to stick with the nonmedicated until/unless I actually have a problem with coccidiosis, at which point I may reevaluate.

Pat