What protein % for meat birds?

[dipence71]

What is the best % protein for Cornish cross meat birds.
My first time doing "meat"only birds usually do DP's.

Tried using search and stickies and couldn't find it after a while I gave up LOL.

My local mill will be doing a 27% feed and wondering if this will be sufficient?

Thanks in Advance!!

 

[bigredfeather]

I would suggest a feed that is 21-23% protein, strart to finish.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

agreed. 27 is too high.

 

[dipence71]

What can you mix it with to reduce protein?
What about regular layer feed to the meat birds? I get a layer mash now that I feed my layers can they thrive on that?
and not have to buy 2 kinds of feed

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I use Purina flock raiser 20% for all of my birds; chicks, layers & meaties.

 

[wekiva bird]

x2
Quote:

 

[dipence71]

My local mill does not have flock raiser. They have layer mash and will be getting this Chicken 27% mix that is 27% protein.
I will have to check Monday on what the protein is in the layer mash because I am not 100% sure. But I do know my ladies lay and seem to do better on it than on Nutrena(*?sp) layer feed and it is less expensive for a 50lb bag @ $9.50 than a 40lb bag of Nutrena @ $12.99.

 

[tgrlily]

Mine will be 3 weeks old on Tuesday or monday -- I'll have to check. I'm feeding Agway 26% game starter. This is my first time with meat birds. I've been feeding it to my regular chicks & using it to condition my adults for showing for over a year. So far, mine are doing well, show no sign of illness or injury and are humongous. I only bought 6 birds & plan on keeping it up then adding corn for the last 2 weeks.

 

[Kim_NC]

We use 18% starter/grower and switch to 20% layer pellets at around 3 weeks. I'd be willing to use something 20-25% as a starter, but our local choices are the 18%, or a 28%, nothing in between.

Anyway, they do well on the 20% pellets and waste less.