Should i feed baby chicks with KAYTEE parrots hand feed?

[orangesplash]

i was recently advised by someone to give my 14 day old chicks kaytee parrots hand feed for protein content.
Also, if this is a good advise, how much such i give them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

i was recently advised by someone to give my 14 day old chicks kaytee parrots hand feed for protein content.
Also, if this is a good advise, how much such i give them?

Do you have commercially prepared chick starter available? If you do, then that's what I would use to feed chicken chicks.

Can you tell us a bit more about the context that the Kaytee feed was suggested?

 

[orangesplash]

i was told that it has protein content that's why.

yes there is commercially prepared food available here in Pakistan.

 

[starri33]

i was told that it has protein content that's why.

yes there is commercially prepared food available here in Pakistan.

Chick starter would give them the proper nutrition..

 

[rkapfen]

I use a chick starter with a high protein content and because I spoil my chickens I give them the occasional treat or scrambled egg with chick grit sprinkled on top, which has a very high protein content and they looove it

 

[orangesplash]

oyster shells are chicken grit right?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

i was told that it has protein content that's why.

yes there is commercially prepared food available here in Pakistan.

Chicken feed also has protein content. The labels in the bag should tell you how much. Layer feed is usually lower around 16%. While chick starter feed will have around 22% ideally. I won't go below 20% protein ever for chicks personally, but some starter feeds I read labels on were as low as 18%.

I always wonder what people mean when they say "high"? Because to me it is all relative. If I want higher protein content, I go with turkey or game bird starter at 26-30% protein. Their need are more in line with poultry than parrot feed will be.

Eggs are a nice boost once in a while but sparingly as they are 34% protein and 64% fat according to the energy (caloric) content... (not 12% as by weight because that wouldn't be "high" protein unless compared to corn).

Oyster shell is NOT grit. It is a source of calcium. Grit is more like small rocks meant to grind food inside the gizzard. Access to dirt or a pan of dirt should suffice.

Do you know the protein, calcium, and fat content of the feeds in question. Amino acids are key. I agree with others that chick starter is best if available.

Good luck and congrats on your new chickies!

 

[rkapfen]

oyster shells are chicken grit right?

Oyster shell and chicks grit are very different. Oyster shell is a calcium supplement for laying hens. Calcium in chicks can actually hurt them so it’s important to not feed them oyster shell until they’re laying age/laying already. Grit is essentially just Little rocks that help chickens break up and eat food since they don’t have teeth. Foraging hens can get this in the dirt. If you keep your chickens in one area where they have eaten most of the natural grit you should offer grit for them. You can buy it at feed stores and it’s pretty cheap. For baby chicks you can offer a little box of dirt for them to forage and get natural grit or just buy some and sprinkle on their food for them

 

[Chickassan]

Save the Kaytee for times when you have an injured bird that isn't eating very well or having troubles, it is much more suited for that.

i was recently advised by someone to give my 14 day old chicks kaytee parrots hand feed for protein content.
Also, if this is a good advise, how much such i give them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

i was told that it has protein content that's why.
yes there is commercially prepared food available here in Pakistan.

oyster shells are chicken grit right?

If you have commercial Chick Starter, use that, it should have a protein range of 18-20%. What does the label say, can you post a photo?

Oyster shell is used as a calcium supplement for actively laying pullets and hens.

If you're chicks are eating anything besides chick starter, then provide them a source of grit - this is usually crushed granite. If that is not available, then provide them access to coarse sand.