Feeding Layer Pellets to 3 month old chicks?

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Ask for Multi-flock grower (mine is 22% protein, never medicated.) If they don't have that, go somewhere else!!! Many laying flocks are maintained on layer, including the roosters. I can understand not giving it to chicks, but would not worry about roosters, or pullets who are approaching laying age. Just my opinion.
 
Jacqdiva said:
I am frustrated that my livestock outlets don't sell an unmedicated grower. What should I do? Are layer pellet bad for roosters too? What about feeding a free range food? Or a meat bird grower? Any advice here? They keep assuring me I can have my flock on layer. Would a scratch mix be better? At a loss here, and worrying about my young birds and roosters in the flock.
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Layer feed is bad for any non-laying fowl, that includes chicks, growing birds, roosters and hens that are not laying.
The high amount Calcium can lead to a number of health problems in non-laying birds.

Most any Starter, Grower, Starter/Grower or "All Flock Feed" that's not medicated would be fine.
 
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Chris09 said:
Layer feed is bad for any non-laying fowl, that includes chicks, growing birds, roosters and hens that are not laying.
The high amount Calcium can lead to a number of health problems in non-laying birds.

Most any Starter, Grower, Starter/Grower or "All Flock Feed" that's not medicated would be fine. 
Click to expand...

I can only get medicated, but it has no antibiotics, just amprolium. Will that be ok? I feed extra shell also. :)
 
They are a bit young to be on layer. I generally don't start the layer... or worry about calcium supplementation if I keep them on grower or multi-flock until they start showing signs of being ready to lay.
 
You can save time and your sanity by staying on all-flock and just adding crushed oyster shells free choice. The all-flock will cover chicks, non-laying birds and roos,even ducks. When everyone is laying you can go to layer-crumbles-then pellets if wanted. I perfer the pellets because of less waste, we are currently doing all-flock because we have almost laying, and some that will begin to lay in Jan./Feb.
 
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I stopped by TSC on the way home and pickup up a 15 lb bag of finisher.
Dumped out what was in the feeders and filled with the grower/finisher.
The three Roos on the right lost it when they saw the adults gobble up the layer I dumped out. They were happy as a clam when I placed their refilled feeder back in though.
Better safe than sorry. I switched the four on the left back too. I'll wait til that bag is finished before switching to layer this time.
Had a feeling it may have been a bit early.
 

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