Chick Start and Grow vs. Starter then Pullet Developer

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I looked in the archives . . . the answer may be there, but I sure can't find it. {sigh}

I had always heard you used starter feed for chicks for the first six weeks, then switched to a developer feed until 5 months or so. I have some 5 1/2 week old chicks and went to get some developer feed, and Southern States (NC) said that they now have combined the under 5 month feeding into a single product called Start and Grow.

Does anyone have any feelings about whether one should use a starter then a developer OR just use a start and grow through the first five months?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

-- Julie Woessner (jwoessner@rtmx.net), April 18, 2002

Answers

Precise feed formulations, protein percentages and so on naturally vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but there's not generally a terrible lot of difference between chick starter and grower/developer. Many (but not all) starters are medicated to deter coccidiosis while most grower/developers that I've seen are not and neither should have the calcium content of layer ration.

Basically so long as the protein is 16% or above (I prefer a little higher) the starter/grower will be jut fine for your chicks. Some folks feed starter to their birds their entire lives supplemented with oyster shell and do just fine.

......Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), April 18, 2002.


I buy my feed at Souther States. The Southern States Start and Grow contains antibiotics (they don't have a chick starter that is antibiotic free, nor can I locate any starter feed around here with none). I feed Start and Grow for the first 5-6 weeks and then switch over to the thier Layer Developer which contains NO antibiotics. It has the correct amount of protien for growth but not so much as to force them into egg laying too early. When they start laying, I stitch over to thier laying crumbles.

Just be sure and switch feed gradually. I switch it by mixing in about 1/4 of the new into the old feed for a couple of days and increase that to 1/2 new and 1/2 old feed for a couple of days then 3/4 of the new for a day or two then straight new feed. I have always had great results both with Southern States and in switching feed this way.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), April 18, 2002.


I managed to find some unmedicated start and grow (18%) crumbles. I'll gradually switch them over to the new feed.

Thanks for your help, Alan and Karen.

-- Julie Woessner (jwoessner@rtmx.net), April 18, 2002.


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