help

[BNChicks]

I have cx meat birds. I know the feeding cost r killing me right now having to buy 24 % feed. I was wondering if I put them on an 18 % feed and it might take longer for them to grow I would save about 9.00 a bag of feed right now. Even if I grow them out an extra week it would still save me. Please help

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How old are they? I would only give 24% for the first 2 weeks. 18 will be fine after that.

Some people give 18% all the way through.

 

[BNChicks]

They r a week old on wed this week

 

[Coralietg]

How many do you have? I have 16 Cornish that are 7 days old, I've only gone through half a bag of feed and that includes feeding another 13 chicks in another brooder. I'm fermenting 18% protein starter for them and they are growing fine.

 

[BNChicks]

I have 25 right now but have a 100 coming in about 2 weeks

 

[BNChicks]

How r u fermenting the feed ??

 

[Coralietg]

If the feed costs are killing you with 25, I can't even imagine 100 more! Wow. Mixing the chick starter with water, apple cider vinegar. There is an amazing thread on fermenting feed in this forum.

 

[BNChicks]

Its not killing me now but was just sayinng when the 100 show up plus all my other aanimals. I found a grain mill and found somee cheaper prices yesterday and went and stocked up on about 250 lbs of feed

 

[ChickenCanoe]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/645057/fermented-feeds-anyone-using-them

I think if you can get a more inexpensive feed and it's at least 18%, I'd use that. Maybe just use the 24 for the first week or so. I think that's way too much protein for cornishX as they grow.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have 25 right now but have a 100 coming in about 2 weeks

Good luck with that. I"ll never order 100 EVER EVER EVER again in my life! Ask me how I know.