Changed my mind about medicated chick starter feed after 5 years

I used to buy medicated starter feed Every Single Year because I was scared of coccidiosis. Last month my older flock got into the brooder and ate all the medicated crumbles meant for my new chicks. I panicked and called my vet in Spokane and she said as long as the brooder is clean and dry, chicks build natural immunity pretty fast without the drugs. So I raised my last batch of 12 Rhode Island Reds on regular non-medicated feed and they are doing great at 6 weeks old. Now I'm thinking I wasted money on medicated feed for years for no real reason. Has anyone else stopped using medicated starter and seen the same results?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery9651mo ago

Clean litter and good ventilation does more than medicated feed ever did for mine.

rayc381mo ago

My 3 flocks over 10 years had me convinced medicated feed was the only way to keep them healthy until I tried your approach @emery965. Cleaned the coop twice as often and put a box fan by the roosts, and the respiratory issues I used to fight every winter just stopped happening. You saved me a lot of money and headaches with that simple switch.

abby_scott18d ago

My buddy tried the fan trick last winter and said his hens stopped wheezing within a week.