I was told to start my meat chicks off on purina grower is this ok??

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

It's my first time with meat birds...they are not cornish cross but they are Freedom Rangers purchased from JMHatchery. Since it does not come in crumble (only pellet) will the chicks be able to eat this? Or is there something else I should start them off on? Thanks for any info!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

you need to find out what protein you birds need, meat birds usually need a higher protein than non-meat birds, I give mine 23%

 

[jaku]

Just make sure the protein is 20% or more, and you'll be fine. As for the pellets, I would think that might be too big for them to eat. You can crush it if you're really ambitious, but personally, I'd just get them something that came in crumble.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I will do that...can they have medicated chick starter? Or should I get the non medicated? I'm thinking non since we are going to butcher at around 10 weeks.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
That's your choice. I don't feed medicated- my thought is that if I wanted chemicals, I'd by birds from the store. Plus it's not a magic bullet for keeping them alive.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Good point...funny, my hubby just told me the same thing (whats the points of buying them to raise)

He says NO medicated feed so I guess that answered my question. Thanks for your help...I'm getting them at 7am tomorrow (HOPEFULLY) and so I decided to (for now) chop up the grower feed and look to see what other types they have tomorrow morning. I have four different types of feed here at the home already whats one more!?