Substitute feed?

[Lucy Brown]

I ran out of chick feed and my order is coming this Tuesday. What can I substitute for chick feed for my 3 and a half week old chicks?

 

[cherrynberry]

I ran out of chick feed and my order is coming this Tuesday. What can I substitute for chick feed for my 3 and a half week old chicks?

Chickens at that age need high protein...do you have mealworms? They also eat part grain and corn...any of those? I also recommend adding some electrolytes into their water. I am not super skilled at knowing everything in grower feed, but these are only a few things I know chicks need, there may be more...and I don’t know the exact amount of everything, so you might want someone more knowledgeable to chime in. Although I think that even if they don’t get exactly what they need, two days should be fine.

Some things they could eat...

barley
Wheat
Rice (not much protein and though)

flax
Seeds (for protein)
Mealworms
Other bugs
Grass (has protein)

 

[cmom]

Do you have any other feed? If you have cat food you can always grind it up and give it to the chicks. At 3.5 weeks old I wouldn't try being too inventive as they grow very fast and need certain nutrients. I'm sure others have better options. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Lucy Brown]

Chickens at that age need high protein...do you have mealworms? They also eat part grain and corn...any of those? I also recommend adding some electrolytes into their water. I am not super skilled at knowing everything in grower feed, but these are only a few things I know chicks need, there may be more...and I don’t know the exact amount of everything, so you might want someone more knowledgeable to chime in. Although I think that even if they don’t get exactly what they need, two days should be fine.

Some things they could eat...

barley
Wheat
Rice (not much protein and though)

flax
Seeds (for protein)
Mealworms
Other bugs
Grass (has protein)

Do you have any other feed? If you have cat food you can always grind it up and give it to the chicks. At 3.5 weeks old I wouldn't try being too inventive as they grow very fast and need certain nutrients. I'm sure others have better options. Good luck and have fun...

I do have mealworms which I have given them a few times, I saw on the internet to give them oatmeal and cooked egg. I also have cat food. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[Parront]

Do you have any other chicken feed around? Chick feed is high protein, you could wet some layer feed and add a smashed up boiled egg to increase the protein content. For only 2 days you will not need to worry about excess calcium.

 

[cmom]

I would go with the cat food until you get your regular feed. Cat food is higher protein. I have used it in the past with no issues. Put some of the meal worms in with it. Good luck...

 

[Parront]

I do have mealworms which I have given them a few times, I saw on the internet to give them oatmeal and cooked egg. I also have cat food. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I feed cat food as a treat. High protein, wet it or put it in the blender.

 

[Parront]

I keep parrots, and as a treat my chicks get millet. Pet isle in the grocery store. That is about 15% protein, you could mix it with smashed boiled eggs. They need dirt & Grit to eat seeds.

 

[3KillerBs]

Won't your feed store be open tomorrow?

 

[cmom]

I ran out of chick feed and my order is coming this Tuesday. What can I substitute for chick feed for my 3 and a half week old chicks?