What is the difference between 18% and 20% chick starter?

[Folly's place]

Does this breeder also limit feed per day? Just wondering... Is it the protein, or calories per day that matters to her stock?
Mary

 

[hysop]

If the breeder has success with what she is doing, I would adhere to her advice.

Oh yes, I’m definitely going to follow her advice since she has years of success raising her Jersey Giants.

My question was more directed to my regular backyard flock, I usually give them 20% starter, but if I will be buying 18% start for the Jersey Giant chicks I was wanting to just feed everyone 18%.

I wanted to know if that was okay or what the difference would be in doing so.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

I’m raising 4 hatchery Jersey Giants and they’ve been on 20% and are doing fine. They’re actually developing slower than some of my other breeds.

 

[hysop]

Does this breeder also limit feed per day? Just wondering... Is it the protein, or calories per day that matters to her stock?
Mary

I want to say just the protein content not the amount of feed, but good question, I’ll have to ask her. I was just going to feed them how I feed my other chicks which is never let the feeder go empty. The only difference with the Jersey Giants was going to be the protein content of the starter (18%)

 

[Angileen]

Oh yes, I’m definitely going to follow her advice since she has years of success raising her Jersey Giants.

My question was more directed to my regular backyard flock, I usually give them 20% starter, but if I will be buying 18% start for the Jersey Giant chicks I was wanting to just feed everyone 18%.

I wanted to know if that was okay or what the difference would be in doing so.

I don't think it will matter.

 

[Folly's place]

Also, you could find out what the calories/ cup or pound are in her feed, and your feed choices, to compare. Different brands will vary there, and maybe in other base ingredients, and maybe in their amino acid profile too. All should be good feeds (does she get something locally milled instead?) and I am wondering what the basic story is here. It just seems odd to me that this particular % should make such a difference. I also thought that this breed is meant to grow to adult size slowly, because of their genetics.
Mary

 

[hysop]

Also, you could find out what the calories/ cup or pound are in her feed, and your feed choices, to compare. Different brands will vary there, and maybe in other base ingredients, and maybe in their amino acid profile too. All should be good feeds (does she get something locally milled instead?) and I am wondering what the basic story is here. It just seems odd to me that this particular % should make such a difference. I also thought that this breed is meant to grow to adult size slowly, because of their genetics.
Mary

She uses local milled feed. But recommended NatureWise 18% or any 18% starter feed. They take a while to get to their max size, but can develop leg problems if they get too fat before their legs grow strong enough to handle the weight.

I am still waiting for a text back about free feeding or measuring their feed as chicks.

18% starter/grower is cheaper in my local feed mill than 20% starter/grower at TSC, so if I can safely feed 18% to all my chicks not just by Jersey Giants then that would be fine by me, but that’s why I’m looking to see if anyone has experience with 18%.

I’ll probably still test it out on my next batch of hatched chicks since I have a decent amount of 20% left.

ETA: The JGs should still have full feeders always even with 18%

 

[GC-Raptor]

that’s why I’m looking to see if anyone has experience with 18%.

I fed my first Flock of Golden Comets a Start & Grow feed 18% till 16 weeks when they started to lay, then switched to a 18% Layer feed.
My second Flock of Barred Rocks was fed the same Start & Grow feed till about 11 weeks when I switched to a All-Flock crumble 20%.
Since then they have gotten either 18 or 20% crumble feed, whichever is available or cheaper when I'm at TSC. They are currently eating a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower feed 18%.
My Barred Rocks are 20 months old. My one remaining Golden Comet is 4 years old.

. GC

 

[Folly's place]

I wonder what the total assay is on her locally milled feed, and if it varies, and if every batch is actually tested. You could ask, anyway, and get the information about her feed.
Mary

 

[hysop]

I fed my first Flock of Golden Comets a Start & Grow feed 18% till 16 weeks when they started to lay, then switched to a 18% Layer feed.
My second Flock of Barred Rocks was fed the same Start & Grow feed till about 11 weeks when I switched to a All-Flock crumble 20%.
Since then they have gotten either 18 or 20% crumble feed, whichever is available or cheaper when I'm at TSC. They are currently eating a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower feed 18%.
My Barred Rocks are 20 months old. My one remaining Golden Comet is 4 years old. View attachment 2101169View attachment 2101172. GC

Thank you for that!! And what lovely chickens