Medicated Vs. Non-Medicated Chick Feed

Medicated Vs. Non-Medicated Chick Feed

February 27, 2022

(A bag of non-medicated chick feed.)

Question of the century: Should I give my chicks medicated or non-medicated chick feed?

There are lots of decisions to make when it comes to raising chickens and one of them is whether or not to use medicated chick feed. Personally, I choose not to.. 

There's nothing wrong with making the decision to use medicated feed.  I just don't feel it's necessary, and in the spirit of raising my chickens naturally, I extend that to my chicks as well.

But each spring, the newbie chicken keepers always ask, "Is medicated chick feed necessary?" So let me explain why I don't feel that it is.

To back up and explain a bit, the purpose of medicated chick feed is to help protect chicks from coccidiosis, which is an infectious parasite and the number one killer of baby chicks. 

Medicated chick feed, designed to be fed for the first 8 weeks of a chick's life, contains Amprolium which is a coccidiostat and aids in coccidiosis prevention during the first few critical weeks. 

Older chicks and adult hens are generally able to fight the bacteria off once their immune systems have developed. 

Amprolium works by interfering with the metabolism of Thiamine (Vitamin B1) in the coccidia parasite, rendering it unable to multiply. This keeps the coccidiosis in check until the chick is able to build a strong immune system.

Instead of using medicated chick feed, I add a few natural supplements to my chicks' diet. I also add a few things to their brooder environment to help boost their immune system naturally.

Ironically, chicks actually need to come into contact with the bacteria in order for their immune systems to start to fight it. 

Low-level exposure to the coccidiosis bacteria, as well as other pathogens in the environment, is  an important piece in immune system health and strength. 

Symptoms include:

• Lethargy
• Loose, bloody stools
• Frothy droppings with mucus
• Fluffed feathers
• Weight loss
• Eventual death

If symptoms don't clear up after switching to the medicated feed, then a vet visit for some cocci medication is in order. 

But hopefully providing your chicks the natural path will be more than adequate to stave off the coccidiosis.

NOTE: If you vaccinate your chicks for coccidiosis, and then proceed to give them medicated feed specifically meant for coccidiosis, both the medications will cancel each other out and leave your chicks as unimmune as they were before- hence, they will lose all immunity to the disease.

The short answer is no, you don't need to use medicated chick feed. 

However, if you feel more comfortable giving them that added layer of security and protection, then by all means go right ahead, but I urge you to try some natural methods instead.

If you have a mother hen raising chicks, she can eat the medicated feed without a problem as there is no withdrawal period for eating eggs after feeding Amprolium - and anyway a broody hen likely won't go back to laying until her chicks are five weeks old or thereabouts anyway.

In my two years of raising chickens, I've not fed medicated feed to any of them and not had any issues with coccidiosis.