Question To Medicate or Not to Medicate

[ThePluckyHen]

I'm new to poultry rearing, I've had some experience and a lot of knowledge gain through my boyfriend's flock but this is my first time as an independent hen-mother. I am planning on hatching my own chicks and have been doing a lot of research on potential issues. One of the concerns I have is Coccidiosis. I've read a lot and am still unsure if I need to give my first brood (hatched in an incubator) with no contact to any other chickens and raised indoors in an unused brooder, medicated feed. I've read conflicting advice from yes absolutely to "if they are healthy it's probably fine to use organic and unmedicated feed". Does anyone have some advice for an anxious first-time parent?

Regards,

The Plucky Hen

[kenya]

You don't need medicated feed if you get the chicks outside every day to free range on grass and dirt. This will build up a natural immunity to cocci. It doesn't have to be very long, an hour, and if the weather's nasty miss that day.

[captivakennels]

it would depend on where you are and the ground the birds are going to. Also how clean is their area etc. Coccidia can kill or more so the bloody stools and dehydration can kill...why would you not prevent it and slowly build up resistance?

[Killerbunny]

It's a very personal decision. I have never fed medicated feed BUT the area has never had any type of poultry etc. on it before. I breed my own turkeys and my foundation came from 1 breeders closed flock. Hope that doest jinx it for me!

[Jaye]

It does depend on your area, but in general if you are keeping them in a clean environment, and introduce them to ground gradually so that they can build immunity, you can feed un-medicated. I have always fed un-medicated to any chicks that have been raised either by broody hen or by me, in part because my local feed store doesn't carry medicated, so I have gone with what they had. When I've raised them in a brooder, I tried to replicate as much as possible what a hen raising chicks does; she'll introduce them to their environment gradually. I dug up small clumps of grass, clover/dandelion with soil and set it in a dish in the brooder after about the first week for them to scratch and peck at.
If you have access to medicated feed, you could go that route, but I wouldn't even if I did have a source nearby. It comes down to personal choice: building natural immunity gradually, or going the medicated feed route. Option one (non-medicated) is more risky, but IMHO it may build hardier chickens.
Also, something to consider if you have a mother hen raising chicks, I don't think I'd want the mother hen eating medicated feed.

[Farrier1987]

Not for me and mine to use prophylactically. I will medicate if a particular bird needs it, but just to feed it "because maybe" I dont really consider the right way to do things. Mostly, free run small flocks do better and are more healthy overall without it. If you are commercial and have ten thousand in one building, might be a different decision making tree.

[Kbr42]

I always feed medicated chick starter to my chicks, regardless if they are raised by my broodies. I keep silkies and showgirls, I live in a high migrating bird traffic area. It works for my flock. I don't have any issues with them.

[ThePluckyHen]

Thanks so much, everyone! It really helps to get some insight into what works for you. My chicks still won't hatch for a while so I feel better knowing potential routes to take when they do!

[KimChick]

We also give our chicks medicated starter feed because they are in the brooder for about 4 weeks. Then we start mixing it with laying mash until the medicated starter is gone.

[Ontario Chick]

Never used medicated chick starter in the 30 years we raised chickens, there was a time several years ego when non medicated chick starter wasn't available, so used duck starter (that is never medicated) instead of chick starter.
Just like @Farrier1987 I don't believe in medicating without symptoms.
Never had cocci in the flock, bit of elbow grease, plenty of sunshine and fresh air and good food is all that is needed :)

BTW your feed store should have a non medicated chick starter, not necessary to buy "organic" unless you really want to, the price is pretty high and regular non-medicated is the same price as medicated, or close to.