Game bird starter VS Chick Starter 24% & 20%

[AspiringUrbaniteFarmer]

I'm wondering why using the game bird chick starter, vs. just the chick starter, wouldn't be better. The protein analysis is 24% for the game bird & 20 for the regular chick... Anyone have any thoughts on this? I, stupidly, gave 17% to my baby chicks b/c the guy at the feed store told me he never uses chick starter & always does layer feed for ALL his birds... it sounded good to me at the time, b/c I buy a soy-free organic layer... but after experimenting with both layer & starter.... I can see why the starter is preferable.

I don't have any soy-free organic starters available locally, so I just use Dumor.

 

[crazyhen]

Its my understanding that too much protein is harmful to the kidneys of chicks. Also the calcium in layer feed builds up and can cause damage as well. Just as too much of anything can be as bad as not enough. The feed companys have researched for fast growth and laying. There is a difference. Gloria Jean

 

[AspiringUrbaniteFarmer]

Thanks, that makes total sense. Good thing I didn't give the layer for very long!

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

Game bird chicks have different amino acid requirements than do young chickens. Because of this the measurement we normally use called "crude protein" is higher in gamebird starter than in chick starter.
Crude protein annaylisis of feed is an antiquated method of catagorizing the value of the feed. With todays knowledge of nutrition the term is basically a "dummied down" label that facilitates a perception of greater or lesser value. Relative to price of course.
Layer feed for any bird less than at the point of lay is ill advised.

 

[jimredtalon]

So the folks at the feed store have me game bird starter instead of regular chicken starter, would it be okay to use for day old chickens?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm wondering why using the game bird chick starter, vs. just the chick starter, wouldn't be better. The protein analysis is 24% for the game bird & 20 for the regular chick... Anyone have any thoughts on this? I, stupidly, gave 17% to my baby chicks b/c the guy at the feed store told me he never uses chick starter & always does layer feed for ALL his birds... it sounded good to me at the time, b/c I buy a soy-free organic layer... but after experimenting with both layer & starter.... I can see why the starter is preferable.

I don't have any soy-free organic starters available locally, so I just use Dumor.

Be very careful following advice from feed store employees. They aren't poultry nutritionists, nor are they veterinarians. Most know where the chicken feed is stored.
Just because he has chickens and feeds layer feed to chicks, doesn't mean that is appropriate.
Clearly on each bag of feed there are feeding instructions and no manufacturer says it is correct to feed layer to birds under 18 weeks.

Its my understanding that too much protein is harmful to the kidneys of chicks. Also the calcium in layer feed builds up and can cause damage as well. Just as too much of anything can be as bad as not enough. The feed companys have researched for fast growth and laying. There is a difference. Gloria Jean

Excess calcium is hard on the kidneys. Excess protein is hard on the liver.
The former can cause visceral gout. The latter can cause articular gout.

Game bird chicks have different amino acid requirements than do young chickens. Because of this the measurement we normally use called "crude protein" is higher in gamebird starter than in chick starter.
Crude protein annaylisis of feed is an antiquated method of catagorizing the value of the feed. With todays knowledge of nutrition the term is basically a "dummied down" label that facilitates a perception of greater or lesser value. Relative to price of course.
Layer feed for any bird less than at the point of lay is ill advised.

Very good points.
Crude protein vs. amino acid makeup is something people need to understand. There is something called limiting amino acids.
Crude protein could be quite high but deficient in a couple essential amino acids. The excess of some amino acids will end up in the litter and increase ammonia therein.

So the folks at the feed store have me game bird starter instead of regular chicken starter, would it be okay to use for day old chickens?

Up to about 24% protein is ok for day old chicks the first couple weeks.
After that, 18-20% is appropriate. It is hard to mess this up. 18% can be fed from hatch to point of lay. As they mature a much lower protein percentages would be better.
Game birds tend to eat many more insects, etc. early in life than chickens so game bird protein requirements would be higher the first several weeks.

 

[Thomas70]

I'm wondering why using the game bird chick starter, vs. just the chick starter, wouldn't be better. The protein analysis is 24% for the game bird & 20 for the regular chick... Anyone have any thoughts on this? I, stupidly, gave 17% to my baby chicks b/c the guy at the feed store told me he never uses chick starter & always does layer feed for ALL his birds... it sounded good to me at the time, b/c I buy a soy-free organic layer... but after experimenting with both layer & starter.... I can see why the starter is preferable.

I don't have any soy-free organic starters available locally, so I just use Dumor.

The guy at the feed store has no clue what he is talking about. Chicks must have chick starter until 8 weeks old. I have silkies and they prefer layer crumbles so I quit giving them the pellets. Yes they tend to waste crumbles from scratching in the feeder but I solved that by placing crumbles in a bowl.

 

[Mosey2003]

I am jumping off of the super high protein bandwagon myself now. Agree with 18-20% in a formula meant for chicks being the best idea.

 

[Hazel1352]

I've been told by a couple of chicken breeders to mix 50/50 Chick Starter and Gamebird Starter for chicks up to until they age out. Is this correct?? Or is that unsafe for their organs?