Should Chicks be Fed Medicated Chick Starter Feed?

Should Chicks be Fed Medicated Chick Starter Feed?
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | April 11, 2023
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Raising a healthy brood of chicks, naturally, is always the goal on the homestead! When deciding what to feed your brood, you may have come across medicated chick starter feed. Feeding medicated chick starter feed is often touted as the best way to prevent coccidiosis in chicks. However, the medication in chick starter feed is not natural. So, should chicks be fed medicated chick starter feed on the homestead? Learn what medicated chick starter feed contains and how it helps chicks stay healthy so you can make the right diet choice for your homestead brood!

What is Medicated Chick Starter Feed?

Medicated chick starter feed is basically chick starter feed that contains a small dosage of a coccidiostat called amprolium. The medicated feed is intended to control coccidiosis while the chicks build up immunity to the parasite. Once a chick has built immunity to coccidiosis, its immune system has built up enough antibodies to fend off the cocci parasite under healthy conditions.

Coccidiosis is one of the most common internal parasites to affect chicks and it can cause death. The cocci parasite lives in a chicken’s intestines and slowly destroys the intestines, causing malnutrition and eventually death. Cocci parasites are always present in the natural environment. However, chickens can build up immunity to the parasite to prevent a serious infection from occurring.

The process of building immunity to coccidiosis starts as soon as a chick is exposed to the cocci parasite. When exposed gradually, the chick will be able to build natural immunity to the parasite without becoming infected. However, if the chick is exposed to large quantities of the cocci parasite before it has built sufficient immunity, the chick’s body will not be able to fend off the parasite.

Medicated chick starter feed is formulated to control the cocci levels within a chick’s intestines. The amprolium will keep the cocci population at a minimal level. That way the chick can build immunity to the parasite without becoming infected.

Medicated chick starter feed does not need to be prescribed by a vet. You will probably see both medicated and unmedicated chick starter feeds side-by-side in your local feed store. Unmedicated chick starter feed simply means the starter feed contains no amprolium.

What is Amprolium?

So, what is amprolium? Amprolium is a synthetic drug that blocks thiamine absorption in the body. Thiamine is a B-vitamin complex (B1) that the cocci parasite needs in order to thrive in a chick’s intestines. When amprolium inhibits the body from absorbing thiamine, the cocci parasite cannot thrive and reproduce at a normal rate.

Medicated chick starter feed contains just enough amprolium to prevent the cocci parasite from thriving. However, it does not actually kill the parasite. Some of the cocci parasite must still be present in a chick’s intestines in order for the chick’s body to build immunity against coccidiosis.

For this reason, medicated chick starter feed only works to prevent coccidiosis. It cannot be used to treat a cocci infection. The level of amprolium within the feed is not strong enough to kill the cocci parasite. Medicated chick starter feed is also only effective at preventing coccidiosis, it is not effective against other parasites or disease.

Even though amprolium is a synthetic drug, it is not considered an antibiotic. Chickens can be raised antibiotic-free but still be fed medicated chick starter feed. Medicated chick starter feed cannot be fed to poultry being raised organically.

As with any drug given to food-animals, you must consider if there is a withdrawal period in which the drug may be present in the animal’s meat or eggs. Amprolium residue can be contained in a chicken’s eggs or meat. A withdrawal period of at least 4 weeks is recommended before consuming eggs or meat from treated birds. However, this is one reason why medicated chick starter feed is only fed to chicks. The longest you would want to use medicated chick starter feed is until the chicks are 15 weeks of age.

How Does Medicated Chick Starter Feed Work?

To determine if medicated chick starter feed is an appropriate diet for your homestead brood, it is helpful to know how medicated chick starter feed works.

The cocci parasite is the most dangerous to growing chicks since they are still in the process of building immunity to the parasite as they mature. Lack of immunity allows the parasite to survive in the chick’s intestine and can lead to death. Additionally, the brooder makes an ideal place for the cocci parasite to survive and thrive. To learn more about the cocci parasite, make sure you read What is Coccidiosis in Chicks and Chickens?

Coccidiosis cannot be avoided. It is present in the natural environment. Even if chicks were raised in a completely clean, indoor environment, as soon as they go outside they will be exposed to the cocci parasite. This is one reason why chicks raised on wire flooring or kept completely inside are more prone to becoming infected with coccidiosis. Chicks must be exposed to cocci in order for their body to build immunity to the parasite.

While amprolium cannot control the level of cocci exposure a chick receives, it can control how well the cocci parasite survives once it is in a chick’s intestines. Medicated chick starter feed can prevent chicks from becoming infected by coccidiosis when they are exposed to the parasite and are still building immunity to the parasite.

It is often used when chicks are being raised in a high exposure environment or if the chicks have not been vaccinated for cocci by the hatchery or breeder. Keep in mind that medicated chick starter feed feed is only effective if the chicks are exposed to cocci. The cocci parasite must be present for chicks to build immunity and for amprolium to inhibit their the parasite’s survival.

How to Feed Medicated Chick Starter Feed

Medicated chick starter feed can be fed like a normal chick starter feed. It should be supplied free-choice so that the chicks have access to the feed at all times. In general, medicated chick starter feed should only be used until the chicks are 15 weeks old or as directed on the feed bag. By then the chicks will have had sufficient time to build immunity to coccidiosis.

Sometimes medicated chick starter feed is only fed to chicks between the ages of 2-5 weeks since that is when the chicks are the most susceptible to the cocci parasite. After using medicated chick starter feed, the chicks can be switched to an unmedicated chick starter feed until they are old enough to be weaned onto a layer feed.

Medicated chick starter feed should not be mixed with unmedicated chick starter feed. It should also not be used as a dietary supplement. The amprolium content in medicated chick feed is only effective when the feed is used a brood’s daily ration and is based off of all-day consumption of the feed.

Amprolium is not 100% effective against coccidiosis. Under high exposure conditions, chicks can still become infected with coccidiosis even when they are fed medicated chick starter feed.

Reasons to NOT Use Medicated Chick Starter Feed

#1. Vaccinated Chicks

Medicated chick starter feed should not be fed to chicks who have already been vaccinated for coccidiosis. The amprolium in the medicated feed will neutralize the vaccine and render it useless against a cocci infection. Many hatcheries and some breeders will vaccinate their chicks for cocci. Make sure you look into the source of your chicks and whether they have been vaccinated or not.

Chicks that you hatch from hatching eggs or from your own homestead flock will not be vaccinate unless you choose to do so.

#2. Waterfowl

Medicated chick starter feed should not be fed to waterfowl. Ducklings, goslings, and other young waterfowl consume more food on a daily basis than chicks. The amprolium content in medicated chick starter feed is based off of a chick’s daily consumption of the feed. Young waterfowl may get overdosed since they consume more feed. Overdosage of amprolium can be dangerous and even fatal.

#3. Thiamine Deficiency

Feeding medicated chick starter feed can result in a thiamine deficiency. Since the drug blocks thiamine absorption to inhibit the cocci parasite, it also means that a chick’s body is not receiving the thiamine it needs. A thiamine deficiency can result in weak chicks that develop cerebrocortial necrosis and may die from heart failure.

A thiamine deficiency can be resolved by using a B1 supplement or vitamin and mineral supplement after the chicks have been switched off the medicated feed. It is common practice when using medicated chick starter feed to only use the medicated feed for the first 5 weeks and then switch to a unmedicated feed and a vitamin/mineral supplement.

#4. Not Organic

The main reason why I don’t use medicated chick starter feed for my homestead brood is because it is a synthetic drug. I want to raise my chicks as naturally as possible. Amprolium is a non-organic drug, and it especially can’t be used when you are raising certified organic poultry.

Can coccidiosis be prevented without using medicated chick feed?

Yes! Healthy chicks can easily be raised even without feeding medicated chick starter feed! The key is using gradual exposure to help the chicks build up immunity to coccidiosis without becoming infected. Good management and proper cocci prevention practices are essential when allowing your chicks to build immunity to cocci through gradual exposure. Here are some tips that will help your brood stay healthy and build immunity to cocci naturally:

• Raise Chicks in the Spring & Early Summer– The cooler weather of spring and early summer means that the cocci parasite is not as prolific in the environment.
• Clean the Brooder Regularly– Keeping the brooder clean prevents the cocci parasite from building up to high exposure levels.
• Remove Wet Litter– The cocci parasite likes warm, damp conditions, so try to keep the brooder as dry as possible.
• Good Ventilation– Having good ventilation in the brooder can help prevent coccidiosis.
• Don’t Overcrowd– Make your the brooder is big enough for the number of chicks you are raising. Cocci is most common in large broods of chicks that are overcrowded in their brooder.
• Clean Food & Water– Make sure your brood’s food and water stay clean and free of droppings which can spread the cocci parasite.
• Gradual Outdoor Exposure– Expose your chicks gradually to the outdoor environment. Introducing small weed clumps (with dirt attached to the roots) or taking them on short field trips outside can help build up immunity to cocci.
• Natural Supplements- Giving your brood natural supplements, like garlic and culinary herbs, can help them build a strong immune system.

For more tips on how to control cocci naturally, make sure you read How to Prevent Coccidiosis in Chicks and Chickens.

Should Chicks be Fed Medicated Chick Starter Feed?

The choice is really up to you. In my opinion, I prefer to raise chicks on the homestead without the use of drugs or synthetic medications, so I don’t use medicated chick starter feed. I have raised countless broods of chicks on the homestead and coccidiosis has never been a serious problem. However, in some cases, medicated chick starter feed may be helpful for keeping your brood safe and healthy. High exposure environments, such as warm and humid climates, may necessitate medicated chick starter feed due to the high concentrations of cocci naturally found in the environment.

Hopefully learning about medicated chick starter feed and coccidiosis can help you make the right diet choice for your homestead brood. Have any questions? Feel free to reach out and make sure you join our modern pioneer newsletter community for more support while you raise your homestead brood naturally!