What is the purpose of feeding medicated feed ?

[mynewbabies]

What does the medicated feed do for your chickens ? Is it really healthy to give it, I prefer to give no chemicals to my flock, but I want them to be healthy too. Over the past few months I have lost 3 , just lost one today, my heart was broke and I felt helpless, I couldn't do anything for her except hold her. They just go for no reason, I don't understand why, they aren't old, am I not doing something for them ? The flock is active, laying eggs, free ranging, seem content. It's hard to figure out, anyone have an answer ?

 

[Bullitt]

What does the medicated feed do for your chickens ? Is it really healthy to give it, I prefer to give no chemicals to my flock, but I want them to be healthy too. Over the past few months I have lost 3 , just lost one today, my heart was broke and I felt helpless, I couldn't do anything for her except hold her. They just go for no reason, I don't understand why, they aren't old, am I not doing something for them ? The flock is active, laying eggs, free ranging, seem content. It's hard to figure out, anyone have an answer ?

The medicated feed helps to strengthen the chicks' immune system.

I do not think medicated chick starter would make a difference with your older chickens. How old are they?

 

[RonC]

Most medicated fed I have seen only contains Amproillium which is used to treat Coccidiosis only in a very small dose. It's the same active ingredient in Corid. Are they showing any symptoms before they die? Blood in poop or anything else?

 

[mynewbabies]

We got them in March, so 6 months now. Is the feed only given when they are chicks ?

 

[mynewbabies]

None that I can see, what would blood in the poop indicate?. What is corid ?

 

[carrieb62]

None that I can see, what would blood in the poop indicate?. What is corid ?

Blood in the poop can indicate infection like Coccidiosis which is parasitic disease of the intestinal tract, and Corid is a great medication used to treat this disease. In doing some reading about Corid (Amprolium) it says it is not an antibiotic and it can be used on antibiotic free farms.

 

[mynewbabies]

I did inspect the poop more this morning all looks good, but my cochin rooster has a runny nose and his one eye is closed, like he has a cold
Seperated him from the flock today, ck the others they seem okay , went to farm store to get some vitiamins and electrolytes , I also found some
All natural stuff for colds called vetrx, hope this works for him, maybe with air changing now it would be wise to give the whole flock the V & E in the
Water lines. The rooster keeps hiding his face under his wing, so I rub some of the vetrx under his wings so it will help him breathe it in.
Have you heard of this vetrx? Anything else I could try to help Max. ?