turkey starter (game bird starter) to 8-12 week old chick.

[abooot99]

I just acquired a 1-2 month old polish hen and prior got three guinea keets. I was told game starter feed to the guineas.
I just picked up a 50# bag of this food and also have my older chickens on layer. Can I feed the young polish game starter? I don't use scratch or any other foods but I wanted to avoid having to deal with three different feeds.
What does everyone think?
The turkey starter is 26% protein.
Thanks

 

[abooot99]

can anyone give me advice?

 

[Junkmanme]

The feed store that I went to one day when my chicks were about 6-7 weeks old ....was OUT of "Starter-Grower".

So, on a "lark" , I bought 22% Layer feed. Fed 'em that.

It didn't hurt them any as far as I can see..MAYBE they GREW FASTER!

Don't know IF the additional calcium strained their "innards", but they all appear VERY HEALTHY.

(Contrary to "conventional wisdom", I suspect that the increased Calcium of a Layer Feed MIGHT have given them stronger bones........they are sure gettin' to be BIG CHICKENS!)

They went back on "Starter-Grower" after about 2 weeks.

I dunno...

..I DO KNOW that they EAT ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that's edible!

* NONE are "broilers".

16 Black Sex-Links, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Black Roundhead GameFowl, 1 Red Sex-Link Rooster.

They ALL eat like HOGS!

 

[SeralTaooke]

You guys got 22% layer? Holy cow.

 

[Junkmanme]

SeralTaooke,

I'm not at all sure of this, but I believe that the 22% layer feed is intended for use with turkeys and/or game birds such as pheasant.

I mixed some 22% layer feed with some "scratch" (9% protein) and fed THAT for a while ...figuring that the chickens were getting approx 16% protein from the way I mixed it. (An attempt to cut feed costs without cutting nutrition)

I'll probably do the same next month (22% layer with 9% scratch).
That seemed to me to be a good mix for the chickens AND my budget!

My chicken EAT anything and everything (even the leaves of my Chinese Elm Trees! go figure THAT!)

-Junkmanme-