Feed running out... Ordered more but....

[Splinty]

Hi!! I need help with this question. I'm new to chicks and they are 3 weeks old. When I bought them from Chickensforbackyards.com they recommended Manna Pro Medicated Chick Starter (5lbs) so I got it for my babies. They told me that the bag would last 5 weeks. Well as you know they are 3 weeks old and I'm almost out of food. I ordered more from Amazon and it shipped on 6/30. They are telling me that it will be delivered between 7/7 & 7/12. I only have enough food left for maybe 2 days. The feed stores near me don't sell it and the only reason I was keeping them on the medicated food is because the bag says to feed it to them till they are 8 weeks old. My feed store only sells non-medicated in 50# bags. I only have 3 chicks and the lady at the store told me to put them on grower food at 6 weeks. I don't know if I should go get the grower food, feed them that till the medicated comes in and if I do that will it upset their stomachs? I'm also not sure if I should start mixing the 2 foods together to ween them off the started onto the grower like I did with my dogs and cats. Can someone please help me? I don't want to harm my chicks in any way.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Truthfully, I don't think the chicks will ever notice the difference, and it won't hurt them to switch to non-medicated feed. I run out from time to time, and have been known to grind up gamebird feed to feed to the chicks until I can get to town, and have never had any problems.

 

[imusa76]

They will eat anything, even styrofome coolers

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I don't think changing there diet will hurt them one bit, its in their nature to be scavengers, they will adjust to anything you feed them, or they feel like eaing.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

You mean this, at $5.00 a lb shipped?

http://www.amazon.com/Manna-Pro-Starter-Medicated-Crumbl/dp/B001D6V2L6

Holy smokes... You could buy 100 lbs of feed at your local feed store for what you are paying for 5 lbs. Buy the grower feed that is available at your local feed store. There is nothing special about what was recommended via mail order.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
x2! Get whatever starter or grower your local feed store has, they'll be fine!

 

[Clay Valley Farmer]

X3 and if you need to feed them starter until 12 weeks to use up the feed store bag that won't harm them either.

 

[3dogs]

One of two Walmarts in my area carries the medicated Manna Pro. You might give that a try in the future, but right now I'd go with the previous advice given.

 

[MandyH]

GO to your local feed store and buy a bag of whatever starter they have it will not hurt them or mess their stomachs up. Since you only have 3 you will have to get you a storage container of some sort to keep the food dry and fresh.

 

[2overeasy000]

I have also used gamebird feed for 3 week old chicks. I think it has a little more protein.

 

[christineavatar]

I found a problem with the feed in a bowl. When I started using a chick feeder with a covering that just let their heads in they stopped wasting so much of it and the second bag lasted until they were pretty much grown.