How long do Chicks need to be on Chick Starter?

Quote:
Perfect!

I'm raising them for eggs an the exrtra roosters for the freezer.

I just picked up a bag today and got the starter grower formula, the bag says to feed it for 16 weeks than switch to a layer formula. I think most bags give a general feeding guideline though.

I think I am just going to keep my chicks on the starter until the bag runs out and then switch them to grower. By the progress I've seen so far it seems like it will be around the right time maybe.... I guess I'll have to wait and see if I'm comfortable with it. They are almost 4 weeks old now and have about half a bag if not a little less of starter left.

My last flock was very healthy until my dog killed them off. I started 32 hens on starter until about 7 weeks then went to layer crumbles. They did fantastic. I also supplemented with the fact they free ranged at 8 weeks and threw them garden vegies too.

My new flock will be introduced to their 10 week old sisters when they are 6 weeks and I am sure they will do fine on layer mash. Sadly they wont free range this time due to a crappy dog the wife wont let me "get rid of".

Mc Murray Hatchery says:
FEED: Use a commercial chick starter for the first 8 weeks. On the first day cover the litter with newspaper and spread some feed on the papers and have your feeders full also. This will allow the new birds to find the feed. Use a 2 foot feeder for each 25 chicks. After the first day remove the papers from the starting area. Please refer to the order blank for feed protein levels for the type of poultry you are ordering.

WATER: Have a 1 gallon chick waterer for each 50 birds. DIP THE BEAK OF THE CHICK IN THE WATER BEFORE YOU TURN IT LOOSE. For the first 2 days add 3 tablespoons of table sugar to each quart of water for extra energy. For best results, have either Quik Chik, Broiler Booster, or an antibiotic in the water. Your birds will be thirsty when you get them. A taste of water right away helps them to find more water soon. Most baby bird loss is caused because the bird doesn't start to eat or drink. Never let your bird run out of water.

GRIT: Starting the 3rd day sprinkle baby grit on the feed daily as if you were salting your food. Avoid putting too much at any one time as the bird may fill up on it instead of the feed.

HEAT: The temperature where the birds are should be 90 to 95 degrees for the first week. Reduce the temperature 5 degrees per week until you get to 70 degrees. Then they shouldn't need any more heat. A good source of heat is a 250 watt bulb. (Red bulbs are better than white. They cause less picking.) Hang it 18 inches from the floor. The temperature directly under the bulb will be higher than 90 degrees but the birds will adjust themselves to the area they like. Use 1 bulb for each 50 chicks in cold weather. Use 1 bulb for each 100 chicks in warm weather.

LIGHT: If you use a heat bulb, this will also serve as the light you need. Otherwise, be sure to give your birds light. Use a 75 watt bulb on dark days. Have a small light for night - 15 watts or similar - to keep them from piling.

SPACE: Try to provide 1/2 square foot per bird at the start. For starting 50 chicks use a draft shield (see below) and make a circle about 5 to 6 feet across. For 100 birds, make the circle 7 to 8 feet across.

OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS
DRAFT SHIELD: Cardboard put in a circle about 12 inches high around the birds helps cut down drafts on the floor. Be sure the circle is large enough to allow the birds to get away from the heat if they want to.

LITTER: Wood shavings, rice hulls, or ground cobs make good litter. Do not use cedar chips,sawdust (It is too small and the birds may eat it instead of their food), or treated wood chips. Sand, straw, or dirt will also work but are not as good as the others. Put the litter all over the floor at least 1 inch thick. Keep it covered for the first day with newspapers to keep the chicks from eating the litter instead of the feed. To avoid possible leg problems, remove the papers after the first day for heavy breeds and meat birds and after the third day for lighter breeds.

we feed ours start and grow. They can be on that until they are 18 weeks old..

Is it okay to feed my layer hens the grower food? As they share the Coop with my 12 week old chicks.

I feed starter mixed with game bird feed for extra protein (also contains animal proteins as well). My birds have been extremely healthy and I haven't had any picking problems since I started mixing the game bird crumbles into my starter/grower/finisher.

I do starter for 8-12 weeks and switch to grower/finisher between 10-12 weeks. They free-feed always and the birds have a free-feeder filled with oyster shell as well because I don't feed layer. I don't know if it's super-healthy to feed roosters layer, so I would rather be safe than sorry. Roosters don't need the extra calcium since they're not laying eggs, and they benefit from the extra protein the game bird feed has to offer.

That's recommended by my farm store. I follow this and have had good results. Thanks for sharing.