Food to feed chicks?

[mommy of two]

What different types of food can you feed chicks? (Around 2-3 weeks) we are feeding the medicated chick starter, but I didn't know if there were other things to feed them or not? The bag at Orschlen is only 5 lbs and they go through that sooo fast!!

 

[scrambled freud]

started with very fine carrots with chick grit around 2-3 weeks....mine like finely chopped everything---tomatoes, lettuce, banana, but ya gotta put in chick grit.

 

[mommy of two]

Thanks, yeah I am giving them chick grit, but I didn't think to finely chop the food. I wasn't sure if they needed it like that or not. We also let them out to free range when it's warm and we are out there. They love it!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Just make sure you don't feed so much other stuff that they don't eat enough chick starter. It doesn't take much at that age. The starter is balanced and has the necessary protein to support their very fast growth. Should be able to find starter in a 25 lb bag.

 

[kynewbchickie]

What different types of food can you feed chicks? (Around 2-3 weeks) we are feeding the medicated chick starter, but I didn't know if there were other things to feed them or not? The bag at Orschlen is only 5 lbs and they go through that sooo fast!!

Have never heard of that store before and I wish I knew where you were located so I could recommend a decently-priced retailer of good chick starter. I get starter from a local retailer in town, crumbles, 50# bag costs $18.00 unmedicated, $20 medicated. I decided against **unmedicated (this was the error, I DO use unmedicated feed) simply due to the antibiotic resistances and I already have Corid on hand to treat any coccidiosis that may flare up...almost 6 weeks old and no issues with that yet.

 

[mommy of two]

We live in Missouri, I have thought about giving them unmediated because it is more natural but I am afraid of them getting sick! My dad found a 50 lbs starter feed that was medicated for $18.00 at Rural King but that is an hour away from where we live. I guess starter feed and chick starter are the same thing?

 

[kynewbchickie]

We live in Missouri, I have thought about giving them unmediated because it is more natural but I am afraid of them getting sick! My dad found a 50 lbs starter feed that was medicated for $18.00 at Rural King but that is an hour away from where we live. I guess starter feed and chick starter are the same thing?

Yep! Same thing.

We don't have Rural Kings around here, but we do have Southern States and Tractor Supply Company stores, along with private grainers everywhere that can run a little high. If you've got a Tractor Supply closer than the Rural King, try there...they have their "Chick Days" going on right now and stay pretty well stocked between Wed-Fri mornings before the weekend chick-buying frenzy starts.

The reason I use unmedicated (my previous post was erroneous, sorry) is due to the work I did as a vet tech, working for a vet locally that practices avian medicine...judging by what I've read here from other seasoned chicken folk, medicated feed contains very low levels of Amprolium antibiotic that actually doesn't do much to prevent or even treat coccidiosis. So rather than propagate antibiotic resistance (a totally personal choice), I chose to stick to unmedicated feed, offer the 1 tbsp unpasteurized ACV/1 gallon water in their waterer, and I have Corid on hand just in case we have an issue with cocci show up. I also give probiotic powder sprinkled on their feed once every other day, usually morning feeding time, just to help keep good levels of beneficial bacteria in their intestines.

Hope this helps - sounds like you're like me - want to keep things natural as possible, yet be prepared or even preemptive in dealing with sickness. Good luck with your babies - and if you can't find another feed retailer nearby, make the trip to your Rural King to get the chick starter feed. They'll need that until they reach laying age, which is around 16-18 weeks old.

 

[mommy of two]

What is unpasturized ACV? I haven't heard of it. The Orsclens we went to wasn't very helpful with what we needed. The lady told us we needed some kind of antibiotic (duramyacin) sp, in the water, but I read that it is for respitory problems and its not good to give it to them unless they need it. Do you get the probiotic powder at the feed stores too?

 

[kynewbchickie]

What is unpasturized ACV? I haven't heard of it. The Orsclens we went to wasn't very helpful with what we needed. The lady told us we needed some kind of antibiotic (duramyacin) sp, in the water, but I read that it is for respitory problems and its not good to give it to them unless they need it. Do you get the probiotic powder at the feed stores too?

Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar - all natural, often called "with the mother." Bragg's is a brand that makes it - even Heinz makes it. The unpasteurized quality acts as a natural antibiotic in most species of animal (including humans) and it has all KINDS of health benefits. You all may end up drinking a little of it in a glass of water, too, once you read up on the benefits you can get from it. It's been highly recommended for chickens from many threads and many posters here, as well as my vet. Miracle worker, for sure.

Duramycin is best in respiratory ailments, true. That's why I get the Corid from the cattle section at Tractor Supply - I'd bet your Rural King will have it. If RK has a website, you can look it up in their product listing to see if they have it - it's the most highly-indicated antibiotic to have on hand for cocci developments.

The probiotic powder I get is made by Probios - I get it in the equine section of Tractor Supply. For a small tub, I paid less than $10 and it comes with a small scoop. One scoop per 2 quarts of feed is about all you'd need for a good probiotic level. It helped firm up their droppings and using it on their feed, coupled with the ACV in their water, we were able to treat several poopie/pasty butt chicks that I saved from the local True Value store in town that were literally on their last legs from being so caked with their own poo, they couldn't go. They were blocked up. All are alive and healthy, nearly 6 weeks old now.

Another item I wished I had gotten ahead of time for a "just in case" like I did the Corid...something called Blu-Kote. It's a topical spray antiseptic/healing aid that turns a wound a purplish-blue hue and protects an area that is irritated or wounded from pecking from the others in the flock. I found two of mine last night pretty badly bullied, with feathers pulled out to the point that they were bloody. After gently cleaning the injury sites, I had to isolate those two chicks from each other AND the rest of the flock overnight, as I didn't have the Blu-Kote on hand. I went early this morning to get it, put it on their wounds, and let them back in with their flockmates once it dried on the wounds. No one pecked at them! Chickens are attracted to reddened, bleeding, scaly, or "odd" things on one another and around 4-6 weeks they can get testy after all that time in a brooder together, especially if space is limited. It has been a life saver, for sure. I couldn't sleep last night due to the loud crying of the two I had to isolate for their own safety - they could see their flockmates through the poultry fence cages I fashioned...but couldn't understand why they couldn't join them on the roost for sleep. They'd have been pecked to death had I not intervened as quickly as I did.

I highly recommend Bragg's brand ACV "with the mother" (as I think it's worded on the bottle), the Probios powder for their feed, and Corid on hand for cocci and Blu-Kote for injuries/wounds as a just-in-case, since you live so far away from a larger retailer of livestock supplies. It never hurts to be prepared - I understand as I live about 10 miles out from the nearest town on a very windy, curvy road that is often clogged with tractors and haywagons this time of year - or full of deer and cattle that refuse to move.

 

[kynewbchickie]

Here's a link for Rural King since you have one nearby that shows the Corid:
http://www.ruralking.com/corid-20-soluble-powder-coccidiostat-10oz-mk3314.html

Here's the ACV I was mentioning:
http://bragg.com/products/bragg-organic-apple-cider-vinegar.html

And here's the Probios I bought, although I don't see it offered at RK other than in a bovine gel - not familiar with that, sorry:
http://www.probios.com/powdersgranules.html

Here's the Rural King link for the Blu-Kote (although it says they're out of stock on the online shop, they may have it in your nearest store):
http://www.ruralking.com/agricultur...blue-kote-aerosol-5-ounce-package-ny3937.html

I hope these links help you out!