Vaccinated Chicks with Coccidiosis

[Folly's place]

I'd plan to use medicated feed in the future for my chicks, knowing that their environment may have lots of coccidia. Leave out the coccidiosis vaccine and use medicated feed instead.
Mary

 

[coach723]

There is plenty of debate on medicated vs non-medicated starter feed, I'm not here to argue with anyone that uses it and feels it works for them. I choose not to use it, and it was a considered decision. I have had outbreaks of coccidiosis and know full well what is at stake. I have Corid and sulfa on hand always, just in case especially when raising chicks. My concerns with medicated are 1. introducing a thiamine deficiency in growing chicks (amprolium inhibits thiamine uptake) 2. Possible interference in the natural immunity being built 3. A reluctance on my part to medicate when there may be no reason 4. Medicated feed is a very low preventative dose and you can still have outbreaks and have to treat anyway.
Rather than medicate as a preventive measure I inoculate naturally by providing access to dirt from my yard in a dish in the brooder from day 1. They build immunity by being exposed to small amounts of coccidia in numbers low enough they can fight off and not get sick. I have been doing it this way for years, and my outbreak incidence is way, way down. I haven't had an outbreak in nearly 5 years now. If you do feed medicated feed, your personal choice, they still need to be exposed to the soil for the same reason, so they can build immunity, the medication just hopefully keeps the numbers low enough that they can fight it off. Just a slightly different way of reaching the same goal. Regardless of which way you go, if you have ever dealt with an outbreak it's good sense to have treatment on hand always so that you can start right away if someone shows symptoms. Hope that makes sense, this is an article probably better said than I: https://www.heritageacresmarket.com/medicated-feed/

 

[ChickenTender516]

Coach723 That sounds like a great plan and I'll definitely try that approach in the future. I have 2 chicks and 2 ducks brooding together downstairs who have not been vaccinated and are on unmedicated feed (because of the ducks) so I'll start introducing dirt (from the other end of my chicken yard!). Our new coop is just about done and we're putting a 2" layer or gravel and 4" layer of construction sand on top of the gravel in our run so I'm hoping that might help ward off any major outbreaks in the future. They will get to free range on the weekends... like my other older hens who haven't had a problem in the year that they've been here.
I called another vet in our area who treats chickens, and she's going to send me some of the sulfa drug to either use if the Corid isn't effective, or to just have on hand for the future. I just hope I started treating early enough so I don't lose any chicks. I keep saying my 5 year old would be devastated but it'a probably more me lol.