Medicated crumb

[jimred]

Iv got a broody hen who is hatching 4 bantam eggs and 4 duck eggs(chipping at the moment), I was going to give them a mix of medicated & normal crumb.
Some website say its no problem feeding medicated crumb some a big NO

What do you folks think

Thanks

 

[NEWTODUCKS]

As I understand it because ducklings consume a large amount then they should not have medicated crumb as it can cause very serious problems.

 

[jimred]

That's what I thought but lots of website say it will not cause any problems

See below


http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page21.htm

 

[4jordynjoeynjorge]

I have also heard don't give the ducks medicated because of the amount of food ducks consume. I have also heard that you can give chickens non-medicated feed. That said, however, the chickens should have at least some medicated feed. Perhaps mixing them is a route to try, say 1/3 medicated to 2/3 non-medicated. Good luck.

 

[Marigold]

I suppose that ideally you should set up two brooders if you are worried about this issue, and also ducklings are so much messier than chicks that it might be easier to raise them apart from each other. I don't think there is any problem about giving chicks unmedicated crumb so long as you can keep their brooder as dry and clean as possible, especially around the drinker, but this is impossible if ducklings are in there with the chicks. The reason for using medicated crumb is to prevent coccidiosis, which is more likely to start up if the oocysts breed in damp warm dirty conditions. The only time I raised ducklings I used unmedicated crumb and they were fine. The medication is precautionary, and personally I've not seen anywhere that says its OK for ducklings to eat it. There doesn't seem any point in risking it, does there?

 

[dorsetduckowner]

I wouldn't risk it as I have lost a duckling to medicated crumb, although I cannot be sure that was the cause.
You can raise chicks on normal crumb suitable for all poultry, the smallholder range does a great one that all can eat.
Do you have a historic problem with coccidiosis? If not I would not worry about it too much
x

 

[NEWTODUCKS]

Hi,
I fed my ducklings with Fancy Feed chick crumb-certainly available from Milbry Hill. GM and medication free.

 

[MalcolmP]

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page21.htm

Thanks for the link, interesting reading.

If it is any help : many years ago when I didnt know any better (no internet !) I hatched and raised many ducks (many hundreds in fact, both for our own consumption and to sell at a local farmers market), all on medicated chick crumbs in their first few weeks without any problems.