feeding day old meaties?

[chooniecat]

Hi. want a factual answer to proper food to feed new broilers when I bring them home. keep it simple. my layers do great on basic commercial grown up food and my baby layers get baby chicken food but I have been told by some that my broiler babys will need special food.just want them to be happy,healthy and not hulk them out like some have suggested. THANKS

 

[jaku]

There's no simple, factual answer. Personally, I feed mine the same regular, nonmedicated broiler feed from day one until butchering day. Some people change feeds from growers to finishers, etc. Some feed medicated, and the list goes on.

All I can say for sure is DON'T feed them regular chick starter, and DO feed them something with at least 20% protein.

The "hulked out" look is the nature of the Cornish X. You don't feed them high protein to GET them huge, you feed them to account for the fact that they WILL be huge, and to support that. If you feed them like layers, you will have problems.

 

[cassie]

I would start them on broiler starter if you can get it. We can't, so we start ours on turkey starter. Limit the feed to twelve hours on and twelve off at a week or ten days of age. We take the feed away at about seven at night and give it back at seven in the morning.

 

[chooniecat]

OK-so I am very ignorant on feeding meat birds-just didn't want to listen to neighbors that are over the top on taking care of their other critters(critters I am familiar of taking care of) I don't recall broiler feed at TSC but remember 20 percent. will look again this week. THANKS!!!

 

[jaku]

Quote:
You should be able to get some of the Dumor at TSC. I believe it's gamebird feed. I bought mine there before I discovered how much cheaper it is to buy it from the mill if you have one nearby.