Guess the Age!

[AndyAmbiguous]

How old do these chicks look to you? I think I may have some stunted growth here. I am mixing my own feed because I’m highly allergic to wheat and gluten so I’m afraid I might have delayed their growth by a few weeks.

I’m curious to know if these chickens look normal for their size or if their delayed development is making them turn out weird. What do you think? Will they eventually catch up?

 

[chickenlittle21]

They look fine to me

 

[Punkybrewster]

3 weeks? Maybe 4?

 

[AndyAmbiguous]

These chicks were born on the 18th of April which makes them around 8 weeks old now. About half the size they should be!

 

[Punkybrewster]

You need to get them on a balanced diet.

 

[AndyAmbiguous]

You need to get them on a balanced diet.

I'm trying my best here. I have an anaphylaxis allergy, I literally can't be around commercial feed (I even make my own dog food). I have formulated their feed to have lots of diversity and 19% protein.

Do you have any specific advice on how to formulate a balanced diet?

 

[superduo]

I'm trying my best here. I have an anaphylaxis allergy, I literally can't be around commercial feed (I even make my own dog food). I have formulated their feed to have lots of diversity and 19% protein.

Do you have any specific advice on how to formulate a balanced diet?

I really feel for you on this. I have immediate and lasting immune reactions to non-gluten wheat proteins and gluten, but not anaphylaxis. I can only imagine how difficult that is as these are everywhere from foods to shampoo. I do not have advice on DIY feed blends, but I am rooting for you. I have found that some wheat free layer feed is available commercially, but it is milled on the same equipment as the wheat blends. My chicks are 3.5 weeks old now, so we're a ways away from that option.

 

[AndyAmbiguous]

I really feel for you on this. I have immediate and lasting immune reactions to non-gluten wheat proteins and gluten, but not anaphylaxis. I can only imagine how difficult that is as these are everywhere from foods to shampoo. I do not have advice on DIY feed blends, but I am rooting for you. I have found that some wheat free layer feed is available commercially, but it is milled on the same equipment as the wheat blends. My chicks are 3.5 weeks old now, so we're a ways away from that option.

What are you feeding your chicks now? I'm curious

 

[superduo]

What are you feeding your chicks now? I'm curious

We continued the breeder's feed of a non-medicated Purina start & grow feed. Wheat is a primary ingredient. I mask up and glove up when I handle the chicks and my husband manages the feed and cleaning. My plan is to buy the Wheat Free Layer Feed from New Country Organics when they are older and then gluten test a sample with the Nima sensor. Maybe then I'd let my guard down a little. I have to be careful outside anyway because even our MicroLife fertilizer granules that we used in our veggie garden contain wheat. I only realized when I had fluid filled blisters appear on my hands that I have seen before after eating gluten and then started investigating what was new.

 

[AndyAmbiguous]

We continued the breeder's feed of a non-medicated Purina start & grow feed. Wheat is a primary ingredient. I mask up and glove up when I handle the chicks and my husband manages the feed and cleaning. My plan is to buy the Wheat Free Layer Feed from New Country Organics when they are older and then gluten test a sample with the Nima sensor. Maybe then I'd let my guard down a little. I have to be careful outside anyway because even our MicroLife fertilizer granules that we used in our veggie garden contain wheat. I only realized when I had fluid filled blisters appear on my hands that I have seen before after eating gluten and then started investigating what was new.

I get those same blisters!! I've been looking at the New Country Organics products, might try to replicate it DIY style.