question about medicated feed

[imtc]

I have 5 chickens, 4 rabbits & a 2mo old nigerian dwarf goat all in the same penned in area. The goat is on it's 1st bag of pellet feed which is "medicated" before I will go to regular feed. I like to feed all of the animals together (rabbit, chicken & goat) in their grazing area but they all seem to eat each other's food. I was told that if I'm eating the chicken eggs they should not be given medicated feed. (I'm just having trouble with my goat eating any of her feed if I try to seperate her out for feeding since she's more interested to graze or visit with me). Is it really a big deal to eat eggs that may have some of the medication in the goat feed? What is it and what would it do to people?

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

first you forgot to tell us what the medication is?

Also why does the goat eat off the floor

why not put the goat feed in a bunk that is higher than the rest of the chickens and the rabbit?

Why can't the chickens be fed in another area of the barn?
personally I don't see why the animals and chickens are not fed in their own area of the barn?
Why are you making the animals and chickens eat to gether?
never heard of this before

basically WHAT is the medication your afraid of?
list the feed contents.

I am not one to eat eggs that have ANY medication in them

you must not have any fears for your own self?

 

[soctippy]

if the feed is medcated, there has to be an explanation on the bag. look on the tag, there should be a section where it says the name of the antibiotic and the "withdrawl" time. this is the ammount of time that the animal must be off the medicated feed to be safely slaughtered for human food. it should say something like withdrawl time 30 days. or it may say there is not a withdrawl time.
if this information is not on the bag, call the feed store where you got it and they should know.

 

[speckledhen]

I was told it is not safe for goats to eat chicken feed. Is that correct? What feed are you giving them? I dont think there is a "one size fits all" feed that is safe for both poultry and goats.

 

[imtc]

yikes...looks like my post didn't make much sense...lol. let me try again. I am in the country on about 15 acres (not on a farm). I have 4 rabbits, 5 hens & my very small goat (she's barely larger than the chickens) They all free range together in my fenced in yard as pets. I give them their feed in seperate containers (one for each animal...rabbits, goat & chickens) however, they tend to "share" since they are living & grazing together and have access to all feeds. I am feeding the goat seperate from the others when I give her the medicated feed ...it's the Nutrena, NatureWise goat feed (I think the medication in it is mainly for coccidia)...too dark outside right now to read ingredients. I have NOT given the goat feed to the other animals...I seperate her out for that but she just doesn't eat much of it yet...not sure if she's still too young and uninterested or busy wanting to be social and play with me. I was just wondering what the danger is if the medicated feed would be in any eggs I'd collect from the hens eating it (since I know they would if they had access to it). I'm just waiting for my goat to finish that 50 lb bag before I can get her regular feed where that won't be an issue....just seems like it will take forever since she won't eat it with me present trying to keep it seperate from the others. Just curious what is in the feed that makes it dangerous for humans thru the eggs I collect from hens that would eat it.

 

[tankernav1]

Hi. I feed my goats that same feed. We had started feeding just fresh grain from the store until one of them got very sick. The goat breeders we got them from immediately diagnosed him after they found out I had stopped feeding the medicated feed. I think it is a mild dewormer. My understanding is that as long as I give them a little bit then they won't get sick. But my friend that milks her goats does NOT give them medicated feed and she does some kind of natural dewormer. I don't deworm my goats so I think that is what the feed does. I may not be much help but I don't think I would eat the eggs if they eat the feed. Then again they probably don't get much of it. I know my goats eat it down pretty quick. Having said this, we ran out of feed and I'm still waiting for the breeders to bring me some as I can't buy the medicated at our local store. Good luck!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I suggest calling your county extension agent once you determine what the medicated ingredient is. I don't want to disrespect anyone on this forum, but you know that source of information.

 

[imtc]

no clue what your comment meant ridgerunner
???????

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
Sorry about not being clear. My suggestion to call the county extension agent is not to insult anyone on this forum. I am certainly not singling anyone out.

I believe your county extension agent is a very reliable source of information on a health issue which you can hold accountable. You don't know if anyone on the internet, including me, is quoting from personal knowledge, opinion, or hearsay.

 

[kinnip]

I would worry less about the medication and more about the copper content in the goat feed causing health problems for the chicken.