When can chicks go off medicated feed?

[TwistedPines]

Like the title says, I've got 36 chicks that have been eating the Nutrena medicated feed. They are almost done with a 50# bag ( those little dudes can put away some feed!

) I went to buy another 50# bag and in my haste, I grabbed a non-medicated bag of feed. Whoops.

So, will they be ok to go off the medicated stuff now or should I return the one I bought for the medicated stuff? 20 of the chicks are 3 weeks old and the 16 are 2 weeks old.

Thanks,

 

[chicmom]

I think they will be just fine eating the non medicated. I myself, have never used the medicated chick food and never had a problem. This year, I did use it because it was all the feed store had. I saw no difference at all. (And I've raised many, many chicks....)

 

[BoogieBird]

I've done both and all have turned out pretty darn good. I had a local chicken-keeper recommend non-medicated. Whatever you feel is right!

 

[pound4pound]

have them on medicated feed 2 mos from the day 1 on of their hatch.

after 2 mos go on natural, organic,fermented, probiotic feed.

 

[KuroKitsune]

all the chicks i've raised have never had medicated feed and they all have been super active and robust healthy chicks.


so i think your chicks will be fine being on non medicated from now till they lay

 

[B4chicks]

I am sure they will be fine. If you are concerned the one time you might want to feed some medicated feed is when they have their first access to dirt or older chickens. But for 36 chicks must be wasting a bunch to be through fifty pounds by three weeks.

 

[TwistedPines]

Thanks for the replies all. I gave them the non-medicated feed and I'm sure they'll do great.
They don't seem to have wasted that much feed as I fill the feeders every morning and by evening they are flat out empty. I just attribute it to growing chicks.