Switching from non medicated to medicated

[LALADY1101]

I have some 2wk old silkies and some 1 wk old silkies. I also have one hatching today. I've had the chicks on non-medicated feed since they hatched. Based on several posts that I've seen on here, alot of people use medicated until they start laying. We bought some medicated feed yesterday. Do I need to slowly integrate the medicated feed to the babies or can I just start feeding them the medicated? Will it shock their system if I switch from nonmedicated to medicated? I don't want to do anything that would hurt them. Thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is the medication in the medicated feed? It is probably Amprol, Amprolium, something like that and not an antibiotic. If it is an Amprolium product, the Amprolium will not shock their system.

With any new feed, I mix it until I have used up all the old with any animal. I think it is just good practice.

 

[RubysMomFP]

Hi. I'm new to chickens, so please excuse the newbie questions. I am considering feeding non-medicated feed to my chickies that will be here in June, but was under the assumption that amprolium was an antibiotic. So what exactly is it and why is it fed? Is it a "wormer" to reduce coccidia in your flock? Thanks!

~Lauren

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Amprolium is a coccidistat. It prevents the chicks from getting an overwhelming infestation of coccidia while at the same time allowing them to build an immunity to it. It keeps the coccidia in check.