What is medicated chicken feed and coccidosis reminder

Coccidosis is the number one killer of chickens, so before you start buying chickens, you need to learn about both this disease and medicated feed.

Coccidiosis is a common and sometimes fatal intestinal disease caused by a parasitic organism that attaches itself to the intestinal mucosa of a chicken. This parasitic invasion damages the intestinal tract, preventing the host chicken from absorbing nutrients vital to their survival.

Coccidiosis develops quickly and ambiguously, the incubation period is from 4 to 10. It is not uncommon for a chicken to look healthy one day, but the next day it becomes very ill or even dies.

The most common symptom is blood or mucus in chicken droppings. However, reddish chicken droppings are not always a sign of coccidiosis. The only way to know if the droppings indicate an infected bird is to have the droppings checked by a veterinarian.

Other possible symptoms

diarrhea weakness and lethargy pale combs and beard refusal of food and water ruffled feathers decreased growth rate, weight

Young chicks (under six months of age) are most susceptible to the disease as they have not had time to develop natural immunity.

Medicated food, non-medicated food and coccidiosis vaccines

Chances are you've heard about medicated chicken feed and the myths that it supposedly helps with various ailments.

In fact, medicated feed helps chickens develop resistance to one organism: coccidia. These parasites live in the soil and their oocysts, like eggs, enter the chick's digestive tract. Parasites cause the same coccidosis, as discussed above.

Most retail medicated chick feeds use the drug amprolium to control coccidia and promote immune development.

Retail medicated foods contain low levels of amprolium, which are toxic to coccidia but safe to other species.

Amprolium reduces the amount of thiamine available in the chicken's intestinal tract, and coccidia die without enough thiamine from their host. The amount of thiamine allows some coccidia to remain in the digestive system of chickens. Bird bodies can then build up resistance to the parasites without dying from infection.

Medicated feed is given only if the birds have not been vaccinated against coccidosis. This is usually the first defense in hatcheries.

A vaccine works differently than a medicated feed. It contains a controlled amount of live coccidia, which allows the chicks' immune system to develop resistance.

If you buy chickens from a store or farm, always ask if they have been vaccinated against coccidiosis. Please note that the vaccine is not 100% effective. It does not protect against all strains of coccidia.

Simple rule.

For chickens vaccinated against coccidiosis, there is no need to provide medicated feed.

Chickens NOT vaccinated against coccidiosis MUST be fed medicated feed.

Whether you choose a vaccine or medicated feed, make sure you have a warm, draft-free, clean brooder. If you see chickens huddled together, then there is a draft. Where there are drafts, the risk of diseases is high.

Remember, medicated food ONLY protects against coccidiosis, not Marek's disease or parasitic worms such as roundworms (roundworms).

Too much amprolium can cause severe vitamin deficiencies, do not give more than what the directions say.

If you are using medicated food, do not add amprolium liquid solution to your drinking water.