Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Lemon-Drop]

Meditated feed only has amprolium in it at a low dose. It's to prevent coccidiosis from overwhelming the chicks and killing them. Basically it lets them build up their immunity to it.

I keep Corid on hand so I don't bother with medicated feed and just use Flockraiser. I have to treat the flocks with it once or twice a year during the wettest times.

I'd recommend medicated feed for newbies to chickens just because they won't recognize signs of coccidiosis and chicks die from it quick.

So it’s ok if I use it?

 

[Hinotori]

Yes. It won't hurt the chicks. It limits uptake of thiamine, but not enough to harm chicks in the amount that is in the food. Lack of thiamine kills off cocci. It's such a low amount of amprolium that it won't get all the cocci and that lets the chicks immune system learn to deal with it.

A lot of people get confused on what medicated means on chick feed and think it's antibiotics.

Cocci developing a resistance to amprolium is really only a concern in large flocks like commercial poultry.

Oh and adult birds can eat chick food just fine. There is no need to transition to layer until the old food is gone. Layer is only 16% protein so I don't feed it at all. My birds tend to pluck and eat feathers if their food drops below 18%. Some breeds just don't do well on the lower feed. So I feed a 20% food.

Protien also effects egg production. You can buy Nutrena Egg Producer which is 20%. Protein is expensive so it does cost $5 or more a bag than regular layer.

Oystershell or crushed eggshell is offered for the hens here. That is the extra thing added to layer feed. That much calcium is hard on the kidneys of non-laying birds like roosters and chicks. Another reason I don't feed layer because I have a mixed flock.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Yes. It won't hurt the chicks. It limits uptake of thiamine, but not enough to harm chicks in the amount that is in the food. Lack of thiamine kills off cocci. It's such a low amount of amprolium that it won't get all the cocci and that lets the chicks immune system learn to deal with it.

A lot of people get confused on what medicated means on chick feed and think it's antibiotics.

Cocci developing a resistance to amprolium is really only a concern in large flocks like commercial poultry.

Oh and adult birds can eat chick food just fine. There is no need to transition to layer until the old food is gone. Layer is only 16% protein so I don't feed it at all. My birds tend to pluck and eat feathers if their food drops below 18%. Some breeds just don't do well on the lower feed. So I feed a 20% food.

Protien also effects egg production. You can buy Nutrena Egg Producer which is 20%. Protein is expensive so it does cost $5 or more a bag than regular layer.

Oystershell or crushed eggshell is offered for the hens here. That is the extra thing added to layer feed. That much calcium is hard on the kidneys of non-laying birds like roosters and chicks. Another reason I don't feed layer because I have a mixed flock.

Ok thanks!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hey all so still going to home Red he is actually about 2 years old. Never went after us takes great care of the flock
overall a great rooster .. I want to go to just one and prefer to make olive girls

 

[Hinotori]

I can't. Leven is still being a superb flock rooster so not replacing him. If he dies it's going to be because he was defending a hen.

I'll probably keep one of his sons out of the batch of chicks just because it will be raised from a young age with him so they don't fight. Leven does need help with that amount of hens. He's always running between groups.

 

[Thomas Bright]

Yes. It won't hurt the chicks. It limits uptake of thiamine, but not enough to harm chicks in the amount that is in the food. Lack of thiamine kills off cocci. It's such a low amount of amprolium that it won't get all the cocci and that lets the chicks immune system learn to deal with it.

A lot of people get confused on what medicated means on chick feed and think it's antibiotics.

Cocci developing a resistance to amprolium is really only a concern in large flocks like commercial poultry.

Oh and adult birds can eat chick food just fine. There is no need to transition to layer until the old food is gone. Layer is only 16% protein so I don't feed it at all. My birds tend to pluck and eat feathers if their food drops below 18%. Some breeds just don't do well on the lower feed. So I feed a 20% food.

Protien also effects egg production. You can buy Nutrena Egg Producer which is 20%. Protein is expensive so it does cost $5 or more a bag than regular layer.

Oystershell or crushed eggshell is offered for the hens here. That is the extra thing added to layer feed. That much calcium is hard on the kidneys of non-laying birds like roosters and chicks. Another reason I don't feed layer because I have a mixed flock.

When my chics come out of the incubator to the brooder they get Purina Medicated Chic Starter. Water, Sav-A-Chic Probiotic and Electrolite free choice everyday until they are fully feathered and moved outside. Have not lost a chic in three years. TOM

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to thread Tom good to all have choices and theories..
What breed of birds do you have there?

 

[Thomas Bright]

I have been posting on this thread for about a year. A friend, GUY, from COULEE CITY WA brought Black Copper Marans over to some one on this thread. I have Black Copper Marans and Cream Leg Bars.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I have been posting on this thread for about a year. A friend, GUY, from COULEE CITY WA brought Black Copper Marans over to some one on this thread. I have Black Copper Marans and Cream Leg Bars.

Just wanted to say those are some BEAUTIFUL eggs!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I will admit freely I do not recall names well.. I took marans cockerel birds to auction for Guy mailed him a check