Turkey Starter for new chicks?

[SilkieCanada]

Is this fine to give to my newly hatched babies or is there a specific food for newly hatched babies? I have silkie chickens.

 

[dsqard]

I would say it is OK to feed them the turkey starter. I have a mixed brood of poults and chicks and I am feeding all them gamebird starter. I looked at the ingredients for both chick and gamebird starter and the only difference between the two was the increased protien. I have been feeding it to my five week old chicks (earlier hatch than the one I just did) for a few weeks and they are doing well on it.

 

[SilkieCanada]

so if they hatch tonight, and I give them turkey starter its fine? I dont need to mash it up or something?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

You can give chicken chicks turkey starter. If it's really high protein (say 26% or more) I would not give it to them for months on end, but for a few days to a couple of months they'll be OK. After two months though I'd back off so they don't develop too fast which can lead to laying problems later on.

 

[ralleia]

I often use turkey starter rather than regular chick feed, or even game bird starter, which I hear has higher quality standards.

In any case, it'll be fine to use the turkey starter. It's crumbles, right?

 

[onthespot]

I got some birds from someone who fed them turkey starter. They grew REALLY FAST on it, but they got bent toes. I was worried about it, but I bred them and raise the chicks on regular chick starter and the babies all have normal feet.

 

[rungirl]

I have a friend who swears by turkey starter for her meat birds.

 

[SilkieCanada]

Bent toes from turkey starter?!

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

I used regular chick starter at first, but the 10 that hatched quickly ate the 5 lb bag from the feed store. I only had 30% Game Bird Starter I was feeding my quail, so I fed them that for a couple days. When I went to get more food from the feed store, which is 50 miles away from me, I attempted to get a 50lb bag of each. I was persuaded to continue with the GBS for both. The chicks are 6 weeks old now and extremely healthy. Don't know when I'll switch, but so far no problems with the 30% protein.

 

[Pele]

You could give your chicks turkey starter if they are meat birds, or if you are in an emergency situation and have no feed for a couple of days.

If you have chickens that you indend to have as laying birds, turkey starter over the long term is inappropriate for them, and will result in them developing too quickly, and laying when their bodies are not ready to. This can result in prolapse, egg-binding, and death.

Turkey starter usually has more fats and protien than chicken feed intended for laying hens. If you have meat birds, then a-ok!