feeding 28% protein turkey starter to meat chicks?

[Minky]

My feed store only sells medicated chick starter or organic.
First, I bought the organic, but its not a crumb, its whole grains and the chicks were picking out what they like and i was left with about 60% left in feeders. At $41 a bag- such a waste!!
So I did some googling and found articles supporting using turkey/pheasant starter. Its 28% protein, though.
Have any of you used this? What are your thoughts? My meat chicks are 1 week old.

I also have mix flock layer chicks (3,5, and 6 weeks old), but they are in a different area and I am planning on mixing the high protein feed with the organic pullet grower for them- plus they get garden scraps and oats etc... and free range.

Thoughts????

 

[Minky]

Bump.
does anyone know if this will be too much. Ive read a lot of contradictory things.
Some folks say their birds do really well on it, great shiny feathers, no heart or leg issues.. others say no- will grow too fast.

What do you guys think?????

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

If that's all you can get, cut it with cracked corn 1 to 1. Be sure they have chick grit too or access to the ground. Mixing the 2 will give you 18% protein. You can put it in food processor so they won't pick the corn out.

 

[Minky]

Ok, thanks. Thats a good idea. I will get some and grind it up a bit in the food processor. Yes, they have baby chick grit and a hunk of sod (a small hunk since its just starting to thaw!)

Thanks for the help~!

 

[Maeschak]

If that's all you can get, cut it with cracked corn 1 to 1. Be sure they have chick grit too or access to the ground. Mixing the 2 will give you 18% protein. You can put it in food processor so they won't pick the corn out.

I do something similar- I get 24% turkey feed and then cut it with scratch to get the protein level I desire. For chicks I dilute to 22% protein (I zip up the feed in my coffee grinder until it's almost powder so chicks can eat it). Then, as the chicks grow I just keep modifying the Turkey feed. I use a 10% protein scratch (mine is cracked corn, wheat, barley but you can use anything as long as you know the protein % for the scratch). By the end I combine my 24% turkey feed with equal parts 10 % scratch and I have around a 17% feed for adults.
In any case, in the long run, cutting Turkey feed will actually provide you with a lot more flexibility for your birds than purchasing the end product in the amounts and times you need it all ready to go.
Good luck with the birds!

 

[Northern.Ontario]

Way too high of protein I think. Its going to give them the "runs" (runny poop). And they will grow too fast and die of cardiac issues. I'm starting mine on 18% chick starter from Master Feeds, then going down to 17% grower/finisher. Northern Feed and supplies in New Liskeard carries the Masterfeed line

https://masterfeeds.com/poultry/18-av-chick-startergrower-crumbs
https://masterfeeds.com/poultry/17-av-broiler-growerfinisher-crumble

 

[Northern.Ontario]

$14.85/bag for 18% and $14.00/bag for 17% (Canadian dollars). 55 pound bags.

 

[potatoesgonnapotate]

By trial and error, I have decided to feed a 1:1 mix of 18% chick starter/grower and 22% meatbird feed for the first 3 weeks, then switch over to just the 18% after that. I ran into some health issues with my first batch of Cornish crosses, and my 2nd batch is doing much better on the new feeding method. They get it for half an hour in the mornings before work, and then for 4-5 hours after work and it's working really well for my particular batch. I have also a batch of red rangers, barred rocks, and sagittas that are under a week old so they're still on 24 hours/day, but I'll see how it goes next week and decide if I'll do 12/12 or something different.

 

[Minky]

$14.85/bag for 18% and $14.00/bag for 17% (Canadian dollars). 55 pound bags.

where do you buy it at that price??? I just paid $42.99 for a 55 lb bag of Org. chick starter

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

One thing, don't give oats to chickens! It irritates their GI tract and will block nutrient absorption.