Should i give these new birds medicated feed?

[dewpetals]

I acquired these pullets yesterday. One lavender orpington is so little. I have no idea their ages. They were kept in an open air hoop run with about 20 or more other chickens of varying ages. The owner only fed conditioning feed with 16% protein and they've never had medicated feed or been dewormed. Should I give them medicated feed at this point? They are in quarantine right now. I dont think they are as healthy as they could be.

 

[Brooks_]

Medicated or not is a personal choice based on your local conditions. Medicated is not a medicine and will not hurt them if they don't "need" it.

 

[nuthatched]

Medicated feed only treats coccidiosis, they need chick feed desperately. They are likely going to be stunted from lack of protein and too much calcium while growing.

 

[Brooks_]

Medicated feed only treats coccidiosis, they need chick feed desperately. They are likely going to be stunted from lack of protein and too much calcium while growing.

I agree about the protein and low AA profile, but the conditioner I checked online had reasonable calcium level. Conditioner is not a formula that's available to me locally so I really don't know much about it.

 

[NatJ]

They are likely going to be stunted from lack of protein and too much calcium while growing.

OP posted a photo of the nutrition information. The calcium level is fine-- not high enough to be dangerous to chicks of any age.

 

[dewpetals]

I started them on non-medicated chick feed crumbles from flock party yesterday. I just wasnt sure about the "medicated" portion. My flock has had a negative fecal float and I didnt want to cross contaminate anything. Guess i just need to do another float to make sure. They are isolated at present and will be for awhile cause they are so much smaller than my others. A couple of them seem to be coughing or sneezing and their poop smells horrible

 

[nuthatched]

I agree about the protein and low AA profile, but the conditioner I checked online had reasonable calcium level. Conditioner is not a formula that's available to me locally so I really don't know much about it.

OP posted a photo of the nutrition information. The calcium level is fine-- not high enough to be dangerous to chicks of any age.

Ah, excuse me, I was thinking that conditioner was what we know as layer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Should I give them medicated feed at this point?

I would not. If the medicine in the medicated feed is Amprolium it is only for coccidiosis. Amprolium does not kill the bug that causes Coccidiosis, it helps keep the numbers of that bug under control so the chicks can develop immunity to that strain. The chickens can still be carriers and spread it but they become immune to the bad effects.

It is fairly likely those chicks are not carriers of Coccidiosis since you found nothing in the fecal count. If they are carriers they have already developed immunity so medicated fed won't help them. If your coop and run are reasonably dry it is unlikely your existing chickens will have any problems before they develop immunity.

You always pay attention when you integrate, even if you have a good quarantine. You never know what will happen. I just don't see it as necessary or even any benefit to feeding any of them medicated feed at this point.