Medicated Feed

Medicated feed is starter feed with a small dose of medicine (usually amprolium) that helps protect chicks from coccidiosis, a gut parasite that spreads in poop and wet, dirty litter.

Use it for the first 6–8 weeks if chicks are on soil, near older birds, during wet weather, or if you’ve had coccidiosis before. Do not use medicated feed if your chicks were vaccinated for coccidiosis, and don’t feed it to laying hens—keep older birds on grower or all-flock. Always follow the bag label, give plain water, and switch to grower feed at 6–8 weeks. If you raise meat birds, check the label for any withdrawal time before processing.