Feeding game bird chicks

[greyghost]

Do game bird chicks need grit like Chickens? Also. do turkey poults need a higher % protien?

[Jake Levi]

Yes and yes.

all game bird chicks need at least a 30% protein starter, some will die on a lower percentage, as grouse. Others just wont start off as they should.  Fairly soon most also need a dusting area, a sand box or some such to dust themselves in . This is covered in most basic books.

[sugar run gamebirds]

not true jake.we feed our chicks 28% protein they don't need atleast 30% some places sell 26% and even 24% gamebird starter. and you should also say that you should also have a medicated starter feed.  we feed different meds in feed for  pheasant and quail.but they both are on 28% protein.


         Lenny
  Sugar Run Gamebirds

[Jake Levi]

Hi Lenny

We'll have to agree to disagree then, I said they all need it, and some will die, like Ruffed Grouse without it, but for sure many will survive on lower, that doesnt mean that they will grow optimally. Of course I amnot growing for sale but local use. So I'll spend more.

Past the first two weeks I feed 28%, but those first two weeks are crucial, they need all the start they can get,

I feed medicated only for the first 2 weeks also,or until its gone.  I do use something for coccidiosis in the water for the first month, along with  necessary salts.

Try a hatch starting on 30% and see if you dont see better growth with fewer losses. Buying it by the ton there is a big difference between 28% and 30%. No question about it.

At 8 weeks the 24% I think is pretty much standard.   Remember he was asking specifially about Turkey poults, and generically on 'gamebirds'.  I answered that all gamebirds are better growing starting on 30%. Some will die without it.  I stand by that.

[DoubleL911]

Along with feeding Purina medicated turkey starter (ground to fines). Is it helpfull to feed hard boiled egg yolks. Referring to game bird chicks.
Larry Lain
www.doublelquailfarms.com

[Jake Levi]

Absolutely! 

All game birds and chickens(descendants of a wild pheasant) love hard boiled egg yolks.

Back to my first post on this thread, I was reading on pheasants last eve, and Leland Hayes says in his book on upland game birds to start Pheasants on 30% starter, Quail on 28%, my book on Ruffed Grouse says NYS DNR failed to raise any for several years until they put chicks on a high protein starter.

 I do know from experience that Turkeys do horrible on low % starters, they need all you can get into them. I've grown wild easterns, bourbon red and royal palm turkeys  and they all needed the max starter.

[Reeves]

Do game bird chicks need grit like Chickens? Also. do turkey poults need a higher % protien?

Like Jake said, yes and yes. It is a good idea to always provide a grit for all chicks you raise. I always provide the #1 granite size for Quail at all ages. For Pheasants , about the time they feather out I mix the #1 with #2 size.
All my "grit boxes" have a 1/4" minus gravel, and the two sizes of grit. This way they can pick the size and shape they want & require.

As for Turkeys, you want to provide them with the feed made for them. It is not just the protien they need. Turkey feed is formulated for them. They have higher requirements for calcium as well.
Talk to your local feed store. They [should] know all about it.

[bobhunter]

28-30% is okay and you can use a good quality turkey starter if feed specific for game birds is not available in your area.

[Jake Levi]

Thanks Reeves and Bobhunter, remedial feeding for me, I should have mentioned both of those, thats whats good about this forum.

Not having grit available is asking for slow growth with gamebirds and turkeys. I have used Turkey starter the past two years, including on Old English Games and they do great on it.  My dealer might start stocking Mazuri if he gets enough other interest in it, ifnot I'll adapt my own with Turkey Starter as a base. 

Right now I am looking at either a fish meal or other similar to add to the Turkey Starter. Wont take much, but sure makes a difference.