CHICK SEASON-The Importance of Feeding Medicated Starter Feed to Baby Chicks

Feeding baby chicks is an exciting venture and one filled with responsibility. As you embark on raising your flock, you are likely to come across medicated starter feed and wonder if it’s truly necessary or beneficial. This blog post will explain the advantages of incorporating this specialized feed into your chicks’ diet, ensuring they grow healthy and strong.

Understanding Medicated Starter Feed

Medicated starter feed is a type of poultry feed specifically formulated for young chicks. It often contains amprolium, usually aimed at preventing common diseases and infections that can adversely affect their early development. Amprolium in medicated feed typically includes coccidiostats, which are designed to combat coccidiosis—a prevalent and potentially fatal disease caused by parasites that infect the intestinal tract of birds.

When these parasites rapidly multiply in a chickens' gut, they damage the intestinal lining, preventing chickens from absorbing nutrients from their food. Both adults and chicks can suffer from coccidiosis and can lead to death of the bird.

PLEASE NOTE: Medicated Starter Feed does not have medication in it. The active ingredient is amprolium. The word "medicated" confuses people. Amprolium is NOT an antibiotic, it is a coccidiostat. The coccidiostat deprives the coccidia of a B vitamin that they need in order to reproduce and it will starve the coccidia.

Medicated starter feed is not a treatment or a cure for anything, ever. It is just an insurance program against this deadly intestinal parasite that chickens are always going to be exposed to because it's everywhere their droppings are.

This feed is different from traditional starter feed, as it’s designed not merely to provide nutrition but also to create a protective barrier against these health challenges.

Coccidiosis

The microscopic protozoa that cause coccidiosis are everywhere chickens are, so understanding litter and sanitation best practices are essential to protecting chickens' gut health. The key to keeping chickens healthy is learning to control the spread of the parasite is recognizing the symptoms when they occur.

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms of coccidiosis are-

*diarrhea and/or blood and/or mucus in droppings

*lethargy, listlessness

*ruffled looking feathers

*pale skin colour

*loss of appetite

*weight loss in older chickens

*failure of chicks to grow/thrive

*progression of symptoms can be gradual or rapidly result in death, particularly in chicks

Disease Prevention

The foremost benefit of medicated starter feed is its role in disease prevention. Coccidiosis is notorious in the poultry world for striking young birds and causing severe illness or even death. By administering medicated feed, you are preemptively reducing the chance of your chicks contracting this dangerous condition.

Moreover, while the feed combats coccidiosis, it allows your chicks to experience a robust immune development. A healthy immune system contributes to a lower likelihood of other infections.

*Provide medicated starter feed to chicks that are not vaccinated for coccidiosis for 18 weeks.(unless you have existing older flock members that you are integrating the younger ones into, in that case feed everyone a starter/grower feed) The amprolium in the medicated feed keeps the coccidia population down to manageable numbers in the gut as chicks develop their resistance to it over time.

DO NOT feed medicated starter feed to chicks that have been inoculated with the coccidiosis vaccine because the amprolium in the medicated feed will kill the live vaccine.

*Keep brooders and coops clean and DRY, DRY, DRY! Warm, wet conditions such as those in a dirty, damp brooder provides the ideal environment for coccidia to rapidly multiply. to

*Provide the cleanest water possible. Chickens cannot be healthy if they are drinking sewage water. It is a best practice to use chick nipple drinkers.

*Don't overcrowd living quarters

*Ensure litter is kept dry

Stress Reduction

Chicks can experience significant stress during their early stages, especially when transitioning from the brooder to their living environment or dealing with changes in temperature. Stress can negatively impact their health and growth, leading to various issues.

Medicated starter feed helps ease this transition by promoting health at a cellular level. Healthier chicks tend to stress less, which can lead to improvements in their behavior and social interactions, further enhancing their welfare.

When buying chicks, the process can be quite stressful for them. Providing vitamins can help strengthen their immune system during relocation.

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Diagnosis

The only way to accurately diagnose coccidiosis in a live chicken is to have a fecal float test performed by a vet. Most veterinarians will gladly perform this test for a normal fee, even if they do not treat the chickens. (It is the same test they would perform on your cat or dog.)

The sooner coccidiosis is identified, the sooner treatment can begin and the lower the risk of death. It is extremely helpful to have a droppings board in the coop in order to make a daily droppings assessment and for ease of cleaning.

Economic Advantages

While some may view medicated starter feed as an extra cost, it is essential to consider the economic benefits it provides.

Investing in medicated starter feed can be seen as a form of insurance for your flock—one that can yield significant savings in the future.

Nutritional Balance

Medicated starter feeds are scientifically formulated to ensure a balanced diet for growing chicks. Along with the preventive medication, the nutritional profile is designed to meet the unique needs of young birds.

A well-rounded diet is critical during this stage of life, as it sets the foundation for strong bones, a robust immune system, and optimal organ function. By providing chicks with the best possible nutrition from the start, you enhance their overall quality of life.

Peace of Mind for Backyard Chicken Keepers

For both novice and experienced chicken keepers, the peace of mind that comes with using medicated starter feed is invaluable. Knowing that you are taking proactive steps to protect your flock against common diseases allows you to concentrate on other aspects of raising your chicks.

Your ability to enjoy this process without the constant worry of losing chicks to illness can transform the experience of raising your chickens from a daunting task to a rewarding adventure.

Treatment

When one chicken is diagnosed with coccidiosis, the entire flock must be treated.

The dosage for Corid 20% Soluble Powder is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water. Offer as the only source of drinking water for 5 days.

Post-Treatment

AFTER the second round of treatment for cocci is completed, particularly, when using amprolium, a vitamin supplement should be given to replace the Vitamin B1 lost during treatment. A product such as Chick' N Swell Brand- Vitamin+ will do the trick.