I pretty much detest Purina products, as I had two dogs both develop stomach problems on it years ago. However, it is the only medicated chick start and grow the TSC in my area sells. I had chicks and pullets, so I was getting that for them. Now the chicks are pullets, and the pullets are hens, so I am giving them different foods. ( I have them in different coops. ) They have Layena brand, but no medicated.
Have you had a big problem with coccidiosis? The medicated/non-medicated feed debate will arouse a lot of opinions here on BYC, some for and some against. Since you are new to chickens, I can understand your concern...you want the best for them.
Of the dozens of chicks we've raised in the 18 months we've been raising chickens, we've not lost any to coccidiosis (the reason for medicated feed). We've given them quality chick feed, access to the outdoors at an early age (since hatching or a few days afterwards), and water fortified with vitamins and probiotics (Sav-a-Chik is one brand). Lots of people use a method like this without the need for the medicated feed. From what I've read, acclimating them to the outdoors (the coccidian protozoa are spread through feces) helps them grow natural immunity/tolerance to succumbing to toxic infestation. It's worked for us, but you have to be your own judge of whether you feel comfortable doing it that way.
I think key here is to limit your chicks exposure to the protozoa. If they are cooped up in a dirty coop full of other chickens' feces, they may be exposed to the protozoa more than they're developing immunity can handle. But if they have access to the outdoors, there will be much more fece-free ground than can spend time on and lower their exposure.
From what I've read, they WILL be exposed to the coccidian protozoa, no getting around it. The coccidiostat medication (in the med. feed) will help kill some of the protozoa and artificially reduce they're exposure. But if you can do it naturally...let the chicks free (or in a small enclosure in the yard), they're bodies won't have to deal with a medication and the possible side effects.
I'm also a big believer in probiotics. As more and more news is coming out about the "end of an era" of antiobiotics, more and more people are turning back to probiotics. We once had a batch of mail-order chicks show up dying left and right. It took us too long (about 9 dead chicks) before we found the solution...to spike their water with probiotics and a vitamin supplement. I got the idea here from BYC, many people here swear by it.
A bit off-topic, but I also make a home-brew of probiotics. I use it to put in the water, to ferment a portion of their feed and also to spray down their runs and coops about once a month. I will give a couple more heavy doses to their coops before winter since they will be spending all their time in there once the snow hits the ground. The brew is full of different probiotics to help combat the "bad bacteria" and also to help break down the feces in our Deep Litter Method coops. I don't know if the probiotics work on things like protozoa, but I do know that the probiotics help keep the "bad bacteria" in balance. When the "bad bacteria" start to win and shift the balance, the whole soil health degrades and invites more and more undesirable micro-organisms and insects and I assume protozoa. This degradation can be turned around with the use of a soil probiotic such as EM-1.
