What kind of chick food do you use?

[GoldenBlossoms]

Just wondering. Which one do you use for feeding your new baby chicks.

Medicated or Non-Medicated and why?


I personally use Medicated because I find my chickens grow much healthier and I rarely have a sick chicken. (Been raising chickens for 4 years now)

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I have been using unmedicated for all of my chicks, they have all grown up healthy and happy. Haven't lost a chick yet. I have a hard time staying with one brand of feed, because my Tractor Supply always switches what they have in stock! I am currently using Purina Starter Crumbles because that was all they had. Ideally I use Cluck and Co. Starter Crumbles...
EDIT: The reason I use unmedicated is mostly because I like to keep things as natural as possible for my egg layers. Also, I am not 100% convinced that it helps chicks in a major way. Could be wrong, though. I am not wholly against medicated; if I felt like it would be better for my chicks, I would use it.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Non-medicated. Coccidia has never been a problem in my chickens. I would rather treat it when it pops up than try to prevent it with Amprolium.

I've used both Dumor and Nutrena Naturewise starter crumbles.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I have never used medicated starter/grower going back well over 50 years now. If using a brooder, I begin putting sods of grass or clover in with the chicks at two weeks of age to get the natural innoculation process going early.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Un-medicated. Coccidiosis hasn't been too much of a problem, & if my birds do get it I just treat with corid. Also I primarily us Dumor 20% Chick Starter/Grower feed. I also feed it to my adult birds since they do awesome on it.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I've used both, can't say that I've really seen a difference. I do usually start them on medicated, but I've never kept them on it for longer than it takes to finish the first bag. By then they're plenty big enough to handle a little coccidia. It can be hard to find the non-medicated starter where i get my feed. With my broody raised chicks they go straight to an all flock.

 

[FrostRanger]

Unmedicated, if coccidiosis pops up I'd have to use corrid anyways and I'd rather prevent it with other means like keeping the brooder clean and dry and controlled early exposure so they build up an immunity. Coccidiosis has never been a problem for me and I'd rather not medicate unless necessary as overmedicating causes more problems than it fixes

 

[GoldenBlossoms]

Very interesting. Also I have never heard of Coccidiosis. I have never dealt with it. Only sick chicken I've had was one that ended up with sour crop... so this is interesting.​

 

[K0k0shka]

Purina Start & Grow, medicated because I prefer prevention to treatment and don't like taking unnecessary risks.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Unmedicated 18% Chick starter/ grower for all my birds.