wildergamebirds
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« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2007, 03:17:32 AM » |
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I've read something like 3.5 to 4 oz. per week the first 6-8 weeks, and 1/2 pound per week from then to 16 weeks. I figure about 1.5 pounds of starter (I feed 30%) to 8 weeks, and 4.5 pounds to 20 weeks (I stay up around 28%, to cut down on number of varieties of feed). This is a little on the long side, unless they mature in cold weather, outside. If you feed less than 24% protein, you may need to feed more. In this heat, there will, of course, be some left over. Feed containing BMD 50 (bacitracin) does help with early weight gain (not size at maturity) I like this, especially in cooler weather. As far as I know only Bobwhites gain weight faster with it, and that benefit is only for the first 5 weeks.
So, one bag of starter per week, for 250 birds, and 24 bags for 250 birds from then to 20 weeks old, or so. Unless you will be adding birds every 10 weeks, or more often, I would just feed the bag of starter until it's gone. It won't hurt them any to have the higher protein. For meat birds, you would need lower protein, higher carbohydrate levels to put fat on them, after 10-12 weeks. I've never ran short, when using these figures to plan feed purchases, multiplying this by 1.5 for Chukar, but after 16 to 20 weeks, Chukar can begin to eat more than this.
This is not exact science, of course, but should keep you from running short, or having a ton of starter left over, as long as you have a good survival rate.
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