Turkey Starter for new chicks?

[ChickenLegs13]

It doesn't matter how you raise your birds; smoebody will post a link to the internet claiming that you're doing it all wrong.
I feed quail & chickens of all ages and if I did it the "proper" way I'd have to buy 4 different kinds of (not counting dog & horse) feed every week. Personally I find it just too complicated to handle, store and dispense that many kinds of feed, so everybody eats turkey/game starter except for the chicken hens, who eat layer.
I wouldn't feed turkey/game to growing commercial pullets but my chickens are Heritage and don't lay until 7 months so I'm not concerned about the 'developing too soon' issue.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Too true.

MrsB

 

[nhbradley]

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.

 

[nhbradley]

I have always use chick starter and turkey starter for any birds I have as babies. I'm starting my meal worms to feed to my Peacocks. So easy to do and so so much cheaper than buying them. This gives them a lot of protein especially in the winter. I should of done this year's ago
I found Rocky Mountain mealworms online. 100 percent helpful.

 

[nhbradley]

I have always use chick starter and turkey starter for any birds I have as babies. I'm starting my meal worms to feed to my Peacocks. So easy to do and so so much cheaper than buying them. This gives them a lot of protein especially in the winter. I should of done this year's ago
I found Rocky Mountain mealworms online. 100 percent helpful.

I should say that it's very inexpensive compared to buying them

 

[Timothy Menezes]

Feeding high protein feed for a short time when they are very young will have no ill effects. But I wouldn't raise them on it long term as it will be hard on them.

 

[Mosey2003]

This is a super old thread, but I have gone to turkey starter for my chicken chicks for the first 8 weeks. Very happy with it.

 

[house1917]

When we consider that grasshoppers are about 40% protein, a pastured chick could realistically forage a pretty darned high protein diet. Totally agree with the sentiment above that no one is going to 'agree' with any particular method. My (probably flawed) method is turkey starter, grit and a small daily amount of finely chopped grass, veggies, fruit- something fresh- until they're mostly feathered out. And then free choice turkey starter, large grit/oyster shell and increased plant materials until they start laying. The one thing I do 'swear by' for chickens in runs/coops is as much plant material as keeps their attention- wish I had enough property to free range!