27% game bird feed for chicks

[Joelbhaiti]

Hello,
I am feeding my chicks 27% game bird starter to get them started but am having some die, mostly Rhode Island reds. Is there a chance the protein is to high for day old chicks?

 

[MysteryChicken]

How old are the chicks?
I've never had problems feeding high protein feed to chicks. I've fed 22% - 24% protein with a 29%(Animal protein) Ration mixed in without deaths. But I didn't add the ration every day. Just every other day.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hello,
I am feeding my chicks 27% game bird starter to get them started but am having some die, mostly Rhode Island reds. Is there a chance the protein is to high for day old chicks?

Welcome to BYC!

I've raised chicks on 30% protein turkey starter with no ill effect to the birds. Excess protein gets excreted as extra smelly and expensive waste (poop). (not ideal or needed but was a breeding project)

Chicks can die for many reasons.. sometimes easy to discern depending on age.. a few ideas.. if very young.. shipping stress, pasty butt, unseen abnormalities/digestion issues past yolk absorption, not connecting with food/water. If slightly older coccidiosis.

 

[Joelbhaiti]

Ok, thanks. They started dying a couple days old and kept on till probably 10 days old or so and now my older ones seem to be over it.

 

[ChickyMudder]

I had chicks die from too much heat. They were not smart enough to move away. Now I keep a govee thermometer in the brooder.

 

[bobsmith2002]

Welcome to BYC!

I've raised chicks on 30% protein turkey starter with no ill effect to the birds. Excess protein gets excreted as extra smelly and expensive waste (poop). (not ideal or needed but was a breeding project)

Chicks can die for many reasons.. sometimes easy to discern depending on age.. a few ideas.. if very young.. shipping stress, pasty butt, unseen abnormalities/digestion issues past yolk absorption, not connecting with food/water. If slightly older coccidiosis.

So it's safe to feed 30% protein Purina Game Starter feed to one week old silkie chicks? Will this make them grow faster? And this won't damage their kidneys?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So it's safe to feed 30% protein Purina Game Starter feed to one week old silkie chicks? Will this make them grow faster? And this won't damage their kidneys?

I have raised Silkies on that before. They did not really grow faster, that I can remember (it's been a really long time).. but they also did not suffer any nutrient deficiencies.

While I never noted any kidney or chick issues using the gamebird starter.. that high of protein did reduce my hatch rate on hatching eggs across all chicken breeds. Typically speaking, I had good all around success (for chickens/chicks/and hatching) using the Purina Flock Raiser with 20% protein.. lifelong with oyster shell available on the side once laying started.

According to my personal experience, aside from extra cost and extra smelly waste.. I'd not hesitate to feed the game bird starter.

With kidney issues regarding higher protein or excess calcium.. there is always some genetic component at play.. therefore your mileage may vary. Always make your best choice according to the information available to you at the time.