Is this feed a good one for chicks ages 0-8 weeks old?

[Ebz5003]

I have been feeding this one to my 22 3 week old chicks, but am noticing a chick that has signs of possible nutritional deficiency, ( mild shaking, but appears to be energetic and well otherwise) so I'm wondering if this feed is a complete, healthy feed for chicks. It is unmedicated but says it contains vitamins and minerals. Thanks

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I have been feeding this one to my 22 3 week old chicks, but am noticing a chick that has signs of possible nutritional deficiency, ( mild shaking, but appears to be energetic and well otherwise) so I'm wondering if this feed is a complete, healthy feed for chicks. It is unmedicated but says it contains vitamins and minerals. Thanks

Yes, this is a great starter feed for chicks. It's hard to go wrong with Kalmbach.

What may be happening with this chick is that is has some sort of absorption problem with the available nutrients, so that even though the feed is fine for everyone else, this one might need supplementation. Or it could be something completely different, including maybe just growing out of it.

 

[Ebz5003]

Yes, this is a great starter feed for chicks. It's hard to go wrong with Kalmbach.

What may be happening with this chick is that is has some sort of absorption problem with the available nutrients, so that even though the feed is fine for everyone else, this one might need supplementation. Or it could be something completely different, including maybe just growing out of it.

Is there anything additional I can give this chick, assuming it may not be getting enough nutrients? I just added chick electrolyte/ vitamins to the water. Is that enough?

 

[FrostRanger]

Is there anything additional I can give this chick, assuming it may not be getting enough nutrients? I just added chick electrolyte/ vitamins to the water. Is that enough?

Be careful with electrolytes, a source of plain water should also be provided and their use should only be short term, otherwise it can cause kidney problems

 

[Ebz5003]

Be careful with electrolytes, a source of plain water should also be provided and their use should only be short term, otherwise it can cause kidney problems

Okay. Is there a better product to supply this chick with added vitamins. See the picture.

 

[Perris]

( mild shaking, but appears to be energetic and well otherwise)

what makes you think this is the result of a vitamin deficiency? Is it just a guess, or have you done some research into possible causes of mild shaking? Adding stuff to their water is forcing all of them to intake excess of whatever's in the stuff added - you could cause far more problems than the one minor one you're trying to solve.

 

[Ebz5003]

what makes you think this is the result of a vitamin deficiency? Is it just a guess, or have you done some research into possible causes of mild shaking? Adding stuff to their water is forcing all of them to intake excess of whatever's in the stuff added - you could cause far more problems than the one minor one you're trying to solve.

It doesn't look anything like Marek's, making me think it is not neurological. Marek's looked to me like lack of muscular control and paralysis in a chick a vet had diagnosed as Marek's. Do you have any helpful advice as to what other neurological/other problems it might be if not a vitamin deficiency?

 

[Yardmom]

Are you trying to say a vet said this chick has Marek's? Or what chick had Marek's? Marek's presents in many ways, usually when Marek's is confirmed it is on a bird that has died. If one bird in the flock had Marek's the rest of the flock carries it also.
Nothing you mention about the chick indicates that it has a nutrient deficiency, but if it did you would need to treat it with the nutrient it was deficient in. If something is not A (Marek's) it is not automatically B (deficient). It could be C (neurological) D (Respiratory) or ????

 

[Folly's place]

How's the dating on your feed? Old feed will loose some vitamins, also some individual chicks may need higher than normal individual nutrients, a genetic problem.
A quality fresh feed will be fine for everyone, as long as a particular individual has a genetic issue.
And three week of age is way early to have symptoms of Marek's disease.
Mary

 

[Perris]

am noticing a chick that has signs of possible nutritional deficiency, ( mild shaking, but appears to be energetic and well otherwise)

Do you have any helpful advice as to what other neurological/other problems it might be if not a vitamin deficiency?

My advice is to be much less quick to intervene. 'Mild shaking but otherwise energetic and well' in 1 out of 22 chicks - all the rest of whom are apparently also energetic and well, unless what you've already done to try to 'fix' this one has made them all ill - is not obviously a problem requiring treatment. Just stand back, and don't try to micromanage their lives.

Chickens are remarkably robust creatures, if not overdosed with potent medicines and concentrated supplements that their keepers are often misinformed 'won't do any harm'. The paper linked below is about the risks for humans; I am not aware of any such study for chickens, but since their bodies are smaller, I imagine their tolerable limits are lower

Too much of a good thing? Toxic effects of vitamin and mineral supplements​

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC164945/

Note also how tiny the recommended doses are. Vitamin supplements are concentrated extracts (easy to overdose). Natural sources (real food) are not and are a much better option if you think your chickens may be deficient in one or another vitamin or mineral. And if you do decide to treat, target your approach with the right substance, in the right quantity, for the right time, just on the one bird that needs it, rather than blast everyone with everything. Remember that, however unintentionally, you can do harm rather than good.