Emergency Substitute for Chick Starter

[antiqsolo]

Hey y'all,

The feed store is closed today, and there's a blizzard warning from tonight until next week! If it happens that we can't get out of our driveway for the next couple days, what can I substitute for chick starter?? They're three weeks old, I was going to pick up more starter tomorrow.. I only have layer crumbles (I know I can't give them those), whole corn, cracked corn, oats, barley and wild bird seed mix. Oh, and wheat bran, rolled oats, etc. I'm so screwed if I get snowed in! Just goes to show what happens if you don't always have a big store of every type of feed...

 

[BBCHICKS123]

Oat meal can work

 

[antiqsolo]

Cooked? Runny or firm? And cold or warm?

 

[BBCHICKS123]

Cooked and between runny and firm

 

[BBCHICKS123]

You should let it cool before feeding it to them

 

[centrarchid]

Hey y'all,

The feed store is closed today, and there's a blizzard warning from tonight until next week! If it happens that we can't get out of our driveway for the next couple days, what can I substitute for chick starter?? They're three weeks old, I was going to pick up more starter tomorrow.. I only have layer crumbles (I know I can't give them those), whole corn, cracked corn, oats, barley and wild bird seed mix. Oh, and wheat bran, rolled oats, etc. I'm so screwed if I get snowed in! Just goes to show what happens if you don't always have a big store of every type of feed... 

Options listed above have protein levels that are too low. They can be mixed with high protein products to give better nutrient profile. First options would be products with fish such as catfood or even simply fish. I have canned salmon that can be tied into. Shellfish good as well. Then you have eggs that I boil and chop up. Layer crumbles OK for short term. My grandfather used to use animal carcass remains because quality diets not on market yet.

 

[antiqsolo]

Thank you! I have canned cat food, is turkey okay or should I run to the dollar store for fish? Would canned tuna work as well? How does: canned cat food, boiled and chopped eggs, and a bit of layer crumbles (in another container) sound?

 

[centrarchid]

Thank you! I have canned cat food, is turkey okay or should I run to the dollar store for fish? Would canned tuna work as well? How does: canned cat food, boiled and chopped eggs, and a bit of layer crumbles (in another container) sound? 

All will work for short term.

 

[antiqsolo]

Thank you

 

[centrarchid]

Get confined chicks back on complete chick starter ASAP. I have reservations about vitamin content of the mix you can provide from current list of food items.