Medicated vs Unmedicated Chick Starter
What the medication in chick feed actually is, when it helps, and the one situation where it works against you.
The short version
The medication in almost all chick starter is amprolium, which is a coccidiostat, not an antibiotic. It limits the coccidia parasite while chicks build their own immunity, and it is a sensible choice for chicks raised in a brooder on bedding, in warm damp conditions, or on ground where chickens have been before. Choose unmedicated feed if your chicks were vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery, because amprolium works against the vaccine, and if you prefer to avoid it in a very clean, low density brooder. Ask the hatchery what they vaccinated for before deciding.
Purina Start and Grow Medicated Chick Feed
About $35
Check price on AmazonPurina Start and Grow Non-Medicated Chick Feed
About $34
Check price on AmazonAt a glance
| Purina Start and Grow Medicated Chick Feed | Purina Start and Grow Non-Medicated Chick Feed | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Amprolium, a coccidiostat | None |
| Is it an antibiotic | No | Not applicable |
| Use with coccidiosis vaccinated chicks | No, it undermines the vaccine | Yes |
| Protects against coccidiosis | Reduces the challenge | No |
| Egg withdrawal concern | Not applicable, chicks are not laying | Not applicable |
| Replaces clean dry brooder management | No | No |
Choose the Purina Start and Grow Medicated Chick Feed if…
Medicated starter is the straightforward choice for unvaccinated chicks raised in a brooder, and for anyone raising chicks on ground that has held chickens before. Amprolium reduces the parasite load enough for chicks to develop immunity rather than being overwhelmed. It is not an antibiotic and it is not a substitute for hygiene: wet bedding around the waterer is the classic setup for a coccidiosis outbreak regardless of what is in the feed.
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Choose the Purina Start and Grow Non-Medicated Chick Feed if…
Use unmedicated feed if the hatchery vaccinated your chicks against coccidiosis, since amprolium interferes with the live vaccine and you lose the protection you paid for. It is also a reasonable choice for a small clean brooder with low stocking density and dry bedding, provided you are watching. Whichever you pick, keep the bedding dry, raise the waterer to reduce splashing, and know the signs of coccidiosis.
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Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of coccidiosis in chicks?
Hunched, fluffed up chicks that stop eating and drinking, blood or a rusty orange tinge in the droppings, pale combs, and a chick that separates from the group. It can move fast and kill within a day or two once symptoms appear. Treatment is with a coccidiostat at a treatment dose, usually obtained from a vet or a farm supplier, and dosing matters, so get advice rather than guessing. Clean and dry the brooder at the same time.
When should chicks come off starter feed?
Broadly, starter or starter grower until around sixteen to eighteen weeks, then a transition to layer feed as the first eggs approach, or to an all flock feed with free choice oyster shell if the group includes cockerels or non layers. Do not put growing birds on layer feed early, because the calcium level is too high for birds that are not laying and can damage kidneys.
Do I still need medicated feed if I keep the brooder clean?
Cleanliness reduces the challenge considerably and some keepers raise chicks successfully on unmedicated feed by keeping bedding dry and stocking density low. The risk rises with warm damp bedding, crowding and ground previously used by chickens. If you are new to this, medicated feed for unvaccinated chicks is the lower risk path, and the decision is worth discussing with a poultry vet or your hatchery.
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