17% Protein Feed too Low for chicks?

[Cncacres]

Good evening, I live in an area where getting specific feed is difficult. I can only get grower feed at the moment with 17% protein. Would this work for chicks (1 day old) if another source of protein is supplemented?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Ryguy3684]

I know they recommmend 20% protein feed for chicks, so I'm not sure if growth would be stunted by a 3% difference. Do you have access to ordering online, like chewy.com or other sites? As long as you get UPS or FedEx, you should be able to get it. How old are the chicks? If they are old enough and you supplement with other protein, make sure to give them grit to digest it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It's less than optimal, but I've raised chicks on 16% layer before. Just likely to make smaller birds

 

[springvalley123]

maybe they could give them some cooked egg whites to make up the difference---or maybe whole egg in case they need more of the other nutrients too?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I usually use an 18% protein crumble for the first couple of weeks. The chicks may end up as smaller adults, but that's not necessarily a bad thing (my lighter birds don't have the bumblefoot and joint problems that some of my heavier ones suffer from). I still get normal sized eggs

 

[bhaugh]

How about game bird feed?

 

[1cock2hens]

I don't even feed my chicks lol I think you will be fine with 16% feed, might just be slower growing.