Hi, I live in Alaska and am unable to find unmedicated chick starter. I went to the feed store today and they said I could use Game Bird Starter (which is unmedicated) instead. It has a 30% protien content. It also has Calcium, not less than 1.00% not more than 1.50%. I read where too muh calcium can harm the meat birds livers. Is this ok, and can I use it for both meat and egg chickens?? Thank you for your help.

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), April 26, 2001

Answers

Response to Chick Starter Question

We have used game bird feed/starter in the past. No problems for our dual purpose birds. I think we bought it for the same reason you give.

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), April 27, 2001.

Response to Chick Starter Question

How does the game bird feed compare in cost to the chick starter?

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), April 27, 2001.

Response to Chick Starter Question

tang, The man we got our dual purpose birds from has been raising chickens for MANY years, and he has always used Game bird. He has about 200 healthy chickens, so it seems to be fine. We've been feeding our new chicks the game bird, and they're thriving. : ) Best of luck,

-- Kristin, in La. (positivekharma@aol.com), April 27, 2001.

Response to Chick Starter Question

The Game Bird Starter is only about $2.00 more than the other. Thanks for the positive response! It's good to be here with other organic people!! :) tang

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), April 27, 2001.

Why do you WANT unmedicated starter? I always use medicated starter, and proceed to unmed grower. I think it is a good idea to use it. Is this a religious thing or what? If it is, you can let them scratch and feed ground corn and table veggies, bugs, and free range goodies. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), May 03, 2001.

Hi Brad, No, this has nothing whatsoever to do with religion. It has to do with my own poor health. I am extremly allergic to tetracyclene and have concerns about the chickens having it in their system at butchering around 8-10 weeks. Studies have evidently showed traces of it the meat and eggs layed at 4-5 months, so what would a chicken 8 weeks old have?? I'm asking because I really don't know. I also do not believe in medicating if there is no illness to begin with. My new chicks come from a local organic farmer with a clean reputation. It's been 20 years since I raised chickens so definately appreciate advice while I am "brushing up". Thanks for giving me the benifit of your experience :) tang

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), May 03, 2001.

Hello Tang,

I for one applaud your intelligent and caring choice to produce your food without drugs! You are wise enough to know how poisons accumulate in the human body, how antibiotics in your diet make can make them completely ineffective should you ever need them for a life- threatening event, not to mention how chemicals affect your precious piece of earth.

I've been raising organic chickens commercially for many years; there is no need for medicated feed. I do remember when I first started I had the same problem trying to find clean feed......the major feed companies only provide feed imbedded with drugs; in fact many feed stores will tell people that you cannot raise them any other way!

Game bird feed is a fine feed; please try to get them on grass during at least half their life; it makes the nutritional make-up of the meat many times better for you, the birds happy, and fertilizes your farm. It IS more expensive to be sure; not suitable for commercial use cuz its not cost effective, but for just a few birds it won't make much difference. You might try supplementing with a bit of scratch too; the protein content of game bird feed is a tad higher than it needs to be for chicks. If you are raising Jumbo Rock Cornish Crosses, be sure to restrict their feed (I make sure they have no feed at night); they are very prone to leg and heart problems cuz they grow unnaturally fast. Regular old fashioned breeds don't have these problems.

Have you tried asking the person you bought the chicks from for advice for feed source? Since he's organic, he may well be of some assistance.

Good luck to you!

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), May 03, 2001.