Chicks fed layer feed/cracked corn for first 6 weeks

[Katydid2011]

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43 days in a row is awesome!

I put my rescues on medicated chick feed when I brought them home at six-weeks old and am just now moving them over to grower feed. They are always hungry and are growing beautifully.

I sometimes wonder at my own convictions about feeding my animals top-quality feed and meticulously monitoring their weight and development, when only this morning I drove through McDonalds! I mean, I take their health more seriously than mine at times.

 

[Katydid2011]

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I'm starting to relax today. It helped to post my concerns and receive feedback. The girls are actually right on target in size, assuming they're the age I suppose them to be, except for one that's narrower in the body than I'd like to see.

 

[Katydid2011]

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That's exactly what I wanted to hear! YAY!!!

 

[Katydid2011]

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glad to hear it, and sorry for the little lecture then

I just see it happen SO MUCH where people rescue the babies without reporting, and that's the vicious cycle, over and over and over and...

i wish people like this guy didn't exist though. you're totally right about the "minimum standards" and it always makes me sad. for any living thing, human or otherwise, it's all just so sad when the bare minimum effort (or worse) is made. why do they even have kids/animals if they don't want to care for them? =/ anyway though, i'll be quiet now, this is clearly a hot button for me and i'm guessing you as well. seriously, good luck with the chickies, i hope no permanent damage was done.

There's absolutely no need to apologize for the lecture. Animal neglect and cruelty is a soap box subject for me too, as is child abuse. They're good things to be passionate about.

As for why people do it, I have no idea - ignorance, indifference...? I can't fathom it. When I think about it too much I start to feel sick and like nothing I do could possibly make a difference. Then I think of Gandhi's famous quote, "Be the change you want to see," and that inspires me to keep hoping for a kinder, better world. If we each act as individuals and do our best to impact the world with kindness, it will become a better place. It may sound cheesy or sappy or whatever, but it's what I firmly believe.

 

[schellie69]

Glad that you saved the chicks, I would think that since you have had them the longest on the right food that they should be okay and lay well. I got 2 barnyard mixes last year and the guy had them in a small pen in a dark barn with their beaks cut. One is now the proud mommy to 2 chicks they both laid everyday except when the one went broody.

 

[cmom]

You are a saint!!!

 

[Katydid2011]

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I'm so glad they're okay, better than okay by the sound of it!

 

[Katydid2011]

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That is the best smiley ever!

 

[DancingHen]

Hats off to you for saving those poor babies! As I understand it from all of my obsessive reading/researching, layer feed has higher calcium levels than is good for chicks. The excess calcium causes them to suffer stress, delayed development/poor growth, and can eventually cause kidney problems. However, if they are now growing well, and appear healthy, then I imagine you saved them in time. If they are growing well now and appear healthy then they will likely be fine. Good luck.

 

[Katydid2011]

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I think they were stunted when I got them but they quickly began to thrive. Sometimes I think I can see them growing and filling out right before my eyes. I'm grateful for the awareness that their early diet may cause kidney problems later; I plan to look into that further, so I can be prepared. Thank you for the luck! I'll gladly take it.