Why can't adults have medicated feed?

[needtohatch]

Okay, I know you should not give medicated feed to adult chickens, but don't remember why. I had a friend ask about it and would like to be able to tell them the why part.
Thanks

 

[BrattishTaz]

I think it is a problem only if you eat the eggs. I know my feed store messed up and gave me medicated chick starter instead of ny regular feed (the bag is the same) and I didn't catch it until my roos had eaten the whole 50lb bag. They suffered no ill effects from it.

 

[un-named]

What kind of problem with eating the eggs? I don't feed medicated feed to my adults,but if they want to, they can fly over the pen and eat it from the chicks.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It is a prevention for chick's weak immune system, that adults don't need. It won't hurt them, but it isn't something I'd feed a hen.

 

[Baymule]

The whole idea of keeping chickens for eggs is NOT to eat eggs with medications in them. That's why.

 

[needtohatch]

The people who asked have a broody with chicks. So based on what I have read it would be ok for them to feed med starter to her and the chciks? I have alway used unmedicated (if I can find it) or flockraiser for mine.

Not that I would do this, but if someone did give it to a laying hen and then ate the egg would they get sick? Just want to get as much info as I can.

Thanks

 

[crazyhen]

It is a matter of antibiotic sensitivity. Are you allergic to Pennicillin or any other type of antibiotic? Also I do not want to be exposed to to many antibiotics in my food. It decreases the uses of that antibiotic , if I were to need to take it myself later on. the bacteria build up a resistance to it sooner. Gloria Jean

 

[Cindy in PA]

Most chick feeds don't have antibiotics in them, but use a thiamine blocker. I still would not want to eat eggs from medicated feed, but I do not think it would hurt you. Do keep in mind some feeds do have a thiamine blocker & bacitracin (antibiotic) so do read the label. I know Agway brand for one, has bacitracin.

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

Deleted-
Redundant to the post just prior to mine.

 

[Chris09]

Most feed Co.'s will use one of two types of medications as a active ingredient in there medicated poultry feed one type is Amprolium which goes by the trade names Corid and Amprol and is a thiamine analog, competitively inhibits the active transport of thiamine (B1).
The second type of medication used is Lasalocid and goes by the trade name Bovatec. Bovatec (lasalocid) is a coccidiocide that kills coccidia. It is an ionophore that moves potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium into the cell causing the cell to burst. Bovatec works primarily on a single developmental stage of coccidia, providing a more narrow range of action than Deccox.
You can feed medicated poultry feed to adult fowl but it is best not to eat the eggs wile the hen is being fed medicated poultry feed and for up to a week after.


Chris