Medicated Chick Starter or Not

[DixieEmu]

Welcome to BYC!

I think the better question might be "can I feed chick starter to my keets", and I say this because I am under the impression that keets need a game bird starter.

NOone else had even mentioned this in all that I have read...... Thank you!

 

[casportpony]

I just found this for you:

If for any reason guinea fowl are not allowed to forage, they can be fed a commercial poultry diet. It is important to use an unmedicated feed. Guineas need a higher protein feed than chickens, but do quite well on regular poultry diets. Keets need a 24% to 26% protein ration as the starter feed. The protein level should be reduced to 18% to 20% for the fifth to eighth weeks. After eight weeks, the keets can be fed a 16% layer mash. If your feed mill does not sell feeds in the proper protein levels, you can mix a higher protein feed with a laying-hen mash to get the proper protein level. Guineas should be fed mash or crumbles. Pelleted feed is not recommended for guineas.

Source: http://articles.extension.org/pages/67816/raising-guinea-fowl
It says not to feed medicated feed, but it fails to mention why, and I believe it's because one of the coccidiostats is toxic guineas. If the medicated feed has amprolium and or bacitracin, both of those are safe for all fowl.

I will find out the name of the toxic drug(s) and post it.

 

[chickens really]

If you are a beginner use the medicated feed. Keep the Brooder dry and you will succeed. I use medicated for all Chicks..

 

[casportpony]

The name of the drug to avoid is monensim:
http://www.poultrymed.com/Monensin

 

[majormagic]

@R2elk posted this in another thread:

Tractor Supply does not sell proper feed for guinea keets or turkey poults.

Guinea keets should be fed a quality high protein starter that also contains the higher amounts of lysine, methionine and niacin. I feed my keets a 28% protein turkey or gamebird starter. They can survive on lower quality feeds but it often will stunt them for life and prevent the proper development of internal organs and bones.

Keets have a very high metabolism, it's go as fast as they can until they just drop.

You can help them by feeding them hard boiled eggs that have been crumbled. It will not boost the protein content because eggs are only approximately 12% protein but it is the essential proteins.

Good luck.

It does not hurt to add a vitamin supplement like Nutri-Drench to the water. I just give my keets plain water.

Usually "medicated" feed contains amprolium which is used to combat coccidiosis. If you feel the need to medicate for coccidiosis and do not have medicated feed, you can add Corid to the water.

The kind of turkey or gamebird starter that is available to me is not medicated.

30% protein starter feed will be fine.

Good luck.

Above posts from here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-clean-guinea-fowl-keets.1242065/​

 

[majormagic]

Read Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by @PeepsCA

Search this thread for posts by @PeepsCA
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/guinea-fowl-sticky-index.601343/
​

 

[Pyxis]

I just found this for you:
Source: http://articles.extension.org/pages/67816/raising-guinea-fowl
It says not to feed medicated feed, but it fails to mention why, and I believe it's because one of the coccidiostats is toxic guineas. If the medicated feed has amprolium and or bacitracin, both of those are safe for all fowl.

I will find out the name of the toxic drug(s) and post it.

That's really good info. Keets need higher protein than chicks do. As someone who has raised keets, I can tell you that you're going to need a higher protein feed. 24% minimum with 26% to 28% being ideal. You're unlikely to find a medicated feed with protein that high. Purina DOES make a medicated game bird starter which is 30% protein and should work, but it's hard to find.

If you wanted to be cautious, you could buy Corid liquid and add it to their water at the preventative dose while feeding an unmedicated game starter.