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The only special thing in layer feed is the calcium. For all the other nutrients, chick starter is fine for their entire lives.Is it okay to eat the eggs from chick feed? I thought they needed to more to adult feed in order to get the nutrients for the eggs.
I kept my 6 gals on chick starter until they were about a year old. My thinking after lots of BYC research was the protein. At 18% i feel it helped with the cold new england winters. I switched to 16% egg layer feed this spring. They were 10 months old. They free range and get tons of bugs for supplemental protein.You can keep feeding chick feed, but use the un medicated stuff and provide oyster shell on the side. Of feed flock raiser.
I have a feeling "she" will never lay eggs. I am far from an expert but that looks like a cockerel to me.I have a feeling she is laying the eggs. She looks more developed. View attachment 3133225
Yes I agree "she" looks like a cockerel! This is my "she" that turned out to be a cockerel. The black Australorp in the front.I have a feeling "she" will never lay eggs. I am far from an expert but that looks like a cockerel to me.
I know this is an old post. So if my girls and guy are in a run and scratch in the sand do they need grit? And if they do, can I mix it in with the oyster shell? Or would it need to be separate. Either is fine. I just need to pick up another base for my mason jar.I kept my 6 gals on chick starter until they were about a year old. My thinking after lots of BYC research was the protein. At 18% i feel it helped with the cold new england winters. I switched to 16% egg layer feed this spring. They were 10 months old. They free range and get tons of bugs for supplemental protein.
Eggcellent! Lol I'll pick up another base and we are good to go! Thanks for the reply!Recommend keeping it seperate, your grit and oyster shell.
How much grit they need? Depends. Sand doesn't really do the trick for them, they benefit from something a little larger, that lasts a bit longer.
You probably do not NEED to provide oyster shell or grit in that case, if layer feed is the only thing the chickens are eating.If you have your chickens on a 16% layer feed do they still need oyster and grit and if so how much and how often do you give them some? If i bump up to higher protein it seems i need to supplement oyster shell and grit but layer feed has mixed in calcium?....