I just got some week-old chicks yesterday, and at the farm they came from, they were given game bird starter feed, which has a higher protein count. I would like to switch them to medicated chick starter feed, and I'm not sure how to transition. I mixed a small amount of the chick starter in with the game starter, but I am unsure of the proportions to give of each. If anyone has any experience or advice on this, it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
You can switch them right away, or do 3:1 for a few days, then do 2:1 a few days, then 1:1, then 1/2:1, then just chick food. Higher protein is good for growing chicks. Live stock are much more suceptible to food transitions due to they need different bacterial, not so much chickens.
Just switch them. We've switched starter feeds many times, mid course, and the chicks just gobble up whatever is provided.
Thank you! The reason I want to switch is that I had heard that higher protein could cause pasting issues with chicks. There hasn't been any problem with that, but I assumed that chick feed would be best. Is higher protein a better option? Thank you!
Higher protein = faster growing chicks. Up to you, chick feed is fine nutrional wise so if its what ya got, feed it to em