Question about coccidia vaccination

[ashesfallingdown]

This is my first time raising chicks! I took home two today vaccinated against Marek's and coccidia. I am planning to take home two more next weekend who will not be vaccinated against coccidia.

My chicks are in a brooder inside. Can I keep my new chicks with my current chicks? Should I feed them all medicated feed when the new ones come? Is the medicated feed even important while they live inside in the brooder? Should I keep feeding them medicated feed when I move them outside?

I've read a lot of threads on this topic but don't think I understand yet. Thank you.

 

[nuthatched]

If you feed them medicated feed, it cancels out the vaccine. You're overthrowing it slightly.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
The coccidia 'vaccine' is actually a low dose of live coccidia, not enough to cause illness in the chicks. It's not a problem for the other chicks, but may or may not actually help them later. Ask the hatchery, at least.
Any amount of amprolium will kill those coccidia, making that vaccine ineffective. You won't know if the soil at your coop will have enough coccidia to make any chicks ill, unless you decide to feed them all unmedicated feed. If you are feeding medicated feed, the chicks need it through the first two weeks, at least, after they are exposed to your soil.
Some of us have problems with coccidiosis in chicks, causing illness and death, and some of us can use unmedicated feed with no problems, at least most years. It's also about your risk tolerance!
Last spring/ summer it was very wet here, and for the first time ever we had chicks with (mild, at least) coccidiosis, after over twenty years with no problems. You just never know...
In the south, with wet clay soil, you might be at higher risk, but again, it really just depends.
Mary