feeding chics 28% protein

[edb]

I purchased several bags of game bird starter. It's 28% protein and I fed it to a few chics, they are growing much faster than the ones on normal 20%. Is there a problem with 28% that I'm not seeing? The bags I purchased were only $20/6 50Lb bags(The feed store was going out of bus.). I first thought that I would mix it with regular feed but the results I'm seeing are great. The chics are bigger and much more active than the normal chic starter.

 

[IrishBoy]

yeah , i bought some of it for my two turky chicks .. but there is a lot left so i am feeding my 5 chicks it as well , and they are SOOOO active and much bigger and very feathered out at 2 weeks ...

 

[Getaway Gal]

Interesting...my first batch of chickens are 13 weeks old and, since they were being raised with turkeys, they have been fed 28%. My second batch are 8 weeks old and getting just regular chicken starter, and they seem a LOT smaller than the others were at this age.

 

[edb]

Why is regular chick feed 20% if 28% does better, I'm sure that there is a reason that I've not seen.

 

[phoenixmama]

I just wanted to add that one time I had two chicks in with two poults. I was feeding them all the higher protein game bird starter...they all did fine. Feeding them the higher protein feed won't hurt them...but it probably is a little more expensive than the chick starter.

 

[Kullas]

growing faster is good if using for meat birds that is going to be on the dinner table in 12 weeks but if you keep feeding it it could cause the legs and wings to deform. i have seen this in birds that are left over from them being caught in my uncles chicken houses. he took them home to keep and still feeding the feen that goes into the chicken house. at about 20 weeks the birds could just barley walk

 

[trilyn]

If you have chicks that are to be laying hens-less protein is better. I am going to quote from "The Joy of Keeping Chickens" by Jennifer Megyesi.

"Laying chicks will require a different feeding regime than chicks that are destined for meat. Remember that a laying hen should develop slowly so that her body will be able to withstand the stresses associated with laying eggs for the rest of her life. A chick destined for consumption will be pushed to grow as quickly and efficiently as possible to achieve the best conversion of feed to meat production possible."

To me, I'd rather have my pullets grow slowly so that I can try to avoid prolapse and the other things that can go wrong with forcing them to mature faster than normal. It just makes sense to me. Good luck!

 

[NYREDS]

I have fed hgh protein game bird grower for years. In fact it's all I do feed. From the day they hatch to the day they die or leave. The birds feather faster with better feather quakity. I have never had a hen prolapse & rarely have any illness.

 

[edb]

Thanks, I'm going to feed the 28% and see what happens. If they start to look like they have a problem with their legs it will just be another one for the grill!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I don't know much but I am one who listens to advice from obvious experts. I was told by one such to feed the 28% to my chicks and have had great results. I think there is a big difference between growing bigger and stronger, and maturing faster. From my perspective more protien = bigger stonger; more hormones = maturing faster. like I said I'm not an expert, just my opinion.