What kind of chick starter do you use?

[kycowgirlchick]

I have been using a brand from our local feed store. It is like $11 a 50 lb bag. But we seem to still be loosing babies from time to time for no reason. Then I dropped by another store about something else. Well we got to talking about feed. She was saying that it sounds like I need supplements and grit for the babies. I thought that I did not need grit until I started feeding corn. ?? She also said that you will always needs supplements. I just dont know.
So I got a bag of Purina chick starter $14 a bag. The breakdown is basically the same as far as protein, fat and etc. But the Purina does have Vit A and ?? D(I think). So that is the only difference.
I would like to know what everyone else feeds and what their take is on vitamin supplements.

 

[Judy]

It would not take much reading on here for you to realize that feed store employees tend to be a really bad source for information.

You do not need grit for chicks on starter chick feed, period, and you may not need it at all, depending what you give them, whether they forage, and your soil type. Vitamins might or might not be beneficial. They are not usually needed except for specific problems.

If you post in the emergencies section with the information suggested in the sticky at the top of that forum, you should get some help. To help you figure out why you have lost chicks, we need a lot more information. And you might post at a more active time in the forum, like after people come home from work. Unfortunately, posts can get lost here easily.

Most feed the chick starter available locally. It does not usually vary that much.

 

[TK Poultry]

do you have a Tractor Supply around? if you do buy there feed starter its non medicated and you can use it for ducks too thats why its not medicated ive used it on all my chicks and ducks and had great results love their whole line of poultry feed and LOVE their goat feeds!

 

[Judy]

Ummm... there was a thread on here recently, titled something like, I will never use TSC feeds again. Lots of people have had problems with their products. Some of the more experienced people on here won't even go into a TSC. I have not and will not buy their feeds, but go there on occasion, because it is the only place I can get certain other items.

Best advice I have is, get your info on here, and buy from a local feed store, if you can.

 

[Mahonri]

You need a starter with good protein content!

 

[kycowgirlchick]

The protein on what I am using and the Purina are the same. But I am worried about it having the vitamins.
But I like using a medicated. Doesnt hurt to protect from sickness. I keep non medicated for the duckies and pheasants. And the TSC isnt medicated.

 

[racuda]

Quote:
Quote:
It's not true that ducks can't have "medicated" feed. Many duck breeders use medicated starter. Actually, medicated is not really the right word. Amprolium prevents thiamine uptake by Cocci bacteria.

 

[cmom]

I buy Nutrena Starter/Grower crumbles for my chicks and Layer pellets for my hens from my local feed store. I do give all of my birds a vitamin supplement with electrolytes that I put either into their feed or water especially since we've been having such hot weather. Also some of my birds are molting so I thought it might be good to give them some supplements.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I use Kelly's starter for my chicks because it's what they have at our feed store. It has absolutely no information on the bag about what it is - no explanation whatsoever. I thought all food products had to have a nutritional breakdown on the label, but this stuff doesn't. I only found out by asking multiple employees at the feed store that the food is non-medicated.

I don't give my chicks any supplements other than yogurt mixed in with their food once or twice a week, if you can call that a supplement. It seemed to help us get past pasty butt the first week and they loved the yogurt so I give it to them as a treat.

They're now 5 weeks old. At 3 weeks, I started giving them some bird gravel that I got at the pet store, but not the kind with calcium in it as I read on BYC they shouldn't have calcium until they're laying.

In addition they have playground sand in their brooder, which they eat and take dust baths in. I was told by a poster here that the sand constitutes grit, so between that and the bird gravel I'm assuming it's safe for them to have meal worms, which is the other "treat" I've started giving them.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I'm a newbie myself with eight 20 wk old chicks.

I have always fed Nutrena starter crumbles and then I just switched to Nutrena layer pellets when my BR started laying on Wed. She has layed an egg everyday since - 4 small, tan, and perfect eggs so far.

No other supplements. Never added anything to their water either. I think the feeds are designed to be complete.

Good luck with yours.