Chick starter

[68 Hollywood]

At what age should I get my chicks off the chick starter? I have five Americaunas and one Buff Orpington that are all about 8 weeks old.

 

[Cats Critters]

Depends on the feed, Here is my page: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4439-feed-chart with both a chart for both Dumor and Purina for what feed to feed when.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

The can be on chick starter for 3-4 months.....then I start on scratch and as soon as they lay I switch over to layer pellets.

 

[newchik715]

So when you switch to scratch, is that what you use as the primary food until the go onto Layena?

 

[68 Hollywood]

Thanks ! I didn't want to buy another 50# bag of starter if i needed to change their feed.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Quote:
I know others may disagree...but yes that's what I've always done!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Mine get switched over to layer crumbles at around 18 to 20 weeks, whenever I run out of the last of the chick starter. At 20 weeks they were getting ready to lay anyway, got our first eggs at 22 weeks.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I kept mine on starter feed till I mixed them with my others ( guess they were about 16 weeks old). I went ahead and switched them all to flock raiser so I can feed them all the same thing!! Even after they started laying I still keep them all on flock raiser! I keep oyster shells available 24/7. Haven't had any problems at all!!

Missi

 

[blueseal]

i have always put mine on starter for 6 weeks then grower until 16 weeks then layer mash. thats according to the blueseal brand i use.

 

[underground chickenman]

I have become a proponent of leaving them on starter feed and adding free choice oyster shell, but that's because my girls seem to do better with a higher protein content. Circumstances may vary and, therefore, so will the feed options. If your hens have access to good sources of protein in their forage, then maybe switching to a layer ration will be sufficient. In either case, you should wait until they are ready to lay.

UGCM