What kind of chick food do you use?

[atomic]

My older pullets are on an all flock and they’ve been thriving. Not laying yet, still month or two out from that.

 

[Vicker]

When I first had chicks 20 years ago, I bought medicated feed. I either hatch or buy new chicks every year. Probably by the 3rd go 'round, I stopped buying medicated. I've had happy, healthy flocks ever since.

 

[2 Acres]

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.

Coccidiosis is very prevalent where I live. So much so that I mix starter ration in with my regular feed, to help keep the established birds healthy during the heavy spring rains.

 

[Raubkatze]

Started out with Kalmbach Start Right food, now everyone is on Kalmbach Chickhouse Reserve as it has grit in it. My chickens are all on straw, both in the brooder, and outside, and love to pick through it for the grainy bits. My outside chickens are in a run that is half mulch and half grass without much access to just dirt to scratch in. I feel better knowing they are getting some grit in their food.

 

[WilderSkye]

Our chicks arrive next week and we are opting to not go with medicated food. They are coming from Alchemist Farms and she says her birds are hardy and have good immunity. I have a packet of chick probiotics for them. And I need to do some research on how much and when, as I ferment all kinds of things for us. Water kefir, milk kefir, l reuteri yogurt, saurkraut, kimchi, ginger bugs, you name it if I can ferment it I do. I always have excess kefir grains. I am a big believer in probiotics for early nutrition, having first hand experience as a new born who nearly died due to botulism from rotten formula the hospital gave me on my second day of life.

As a retired RN I have seen how awful coccidiosis is in humans, and believe me, my husband and I spent a good 15 minutes at Big R standing in front of the chick feed trying to decide this one. I just believe medicated feed will sterilize their guts and make it harder to colonize with good probiotics. Had we got chicks that spent a few days in a feed store around other people and the stress, I would def consider it. Have really appreciated the question and comments.

 

[2 Acres]

Started out with Kalmbach Start Right food, now everyone is on Kalmbach Chickhouse Reserve as it has grit in it. My chickens are all on straw, both in the brooder, and outside, and love to pick through it for the grainy bits. My outside chickens are in a run that is half mulch and half grass without much access to just dirt to scratch in. I feel better knowing they are getting some grit in their food.

My girls love Kalmbach. When I did a chicken rescue last winter. I took everything the guy had. He was very negligent with his birds.
Bought Producers Pride feed.

My girls turned their nose up to the Producers Pride, as of to say... "what's this garbage". They won't eat it.

 

[2 Acres]

Can anyone say "toasted egg shells"? High in calcium.... Gotta give back to the girls

 

[2 Acres]

Perfect...