Should I switch to Non Medicated food?

[ForFlocksSake]

I am so confused by the medicated vs. non medicated topic. I know its to help prevent Coccidiosis but read they should only be on it for the beginning of life? I have a 5 lb bag that's almost empty. the first 2 days I had them on non medicated but quickly switched to medicated after we had a chick die suddenly. No rhyme or reason but I just felt better getting medicated. Should I switch back to non?

I also saw here on the forum lots of talk about treating with Corrid if a chick or chicken shows signs of Coccidiosis. Where does one get this? is the something I should have on hand when raising chickens? Am I overthinking? I may be assuming this is more of a problem than it actually is.

 

[nuthatched]

You can get corrid at the feed store.
Medicated feed doesn't prevent Coccidosis but it does reduce the chances of getting a severe case.

 

[Tonyroo]

Finish the bag off with what your using now then switch it. Medicated or non doesn't make a difference, just one is pricier.

Any chick or chicken that get sick you will have to treat them with proper medication anyway.

You can find it in any farm store including TSC and Rural king.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

You can get corrid at the feed store.
Medicated feed doesn't prevent Coccidosis but it does reduce the chances of getting a severe case.

so should I be continuing to feed medicated?

 

[nuthatched]

so should I be continuing to feed medicated?

If you want, it shouldn't hurt

 

[thecatumbrella]

I personally am feeding medicated until they switch to layer feed. I figure it can't hurt while they're adjusting to the outside (and new exposures). Our local store carries it, and it's pretty cheap.

I also have Corrid on hand for emergencies, thanks to the advice in these forums (bought off Amazon).

 

[rosemarythyme]

IMO best to have Corid on hand regardless of what you feed them, as a bird can go downhill very quickly if they have coccidiosis. You can get it from feed stores, I think it's usually labeled for use in calves.

I don't use medicated feed, I believe in using exposure to help chicks build up a tolerance for the parasite, but that only seems to work if they're exposed to it very early on (I brood outdoors so they're exposed from 2-3 days old). If you brooded indoors and didn't expose the chicks to outdoor soil/dirt for weeks, when they finally go out any coccidiosis in your environment can overwhelm their system, and that's the sort of thing medicated feed was designed to help with.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I personally am feeding medicated until they switch to layer feed. I figure it can't hurt while they're adjusting to the outside (and new exposures). Our local store carries it, and it's pretty cheap.

I also have Corrid on hand for emergencies, thanks to the advice in these forums (bought off Amazon).

Thanks! Just ordered some from amazon to keep on hand.

 

[lafinestra66]

I would definitely get Corid in case of emergencies. One of my little chicks got sick and she went downhill so fast. I got lucky that Fleet Farm was open and near my house so I could grab it quickly to begin treatment that same day. It saved her life!

 

[Whittni]

Corid is being removed from US feed stores on June 11th though?