7 week olds, start grower feed?

[CountryHeart06]

I have 6 chicks that will be 8 weeks next Monday and I have just about run out of crumbles. I was wondering if it was alright to start them on grower feed slightly early? And also do I need grit with grower feed or is that introduced when they get to the layer feed? And what do you all use for grit? Thanks!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

If they have access to the ground they will get their own grit by digging. I don't supply any extra stone though I probably should in winter when everything is ice.

You can switch to grower or continue with non medicated starter until they are point of lay or laying then move on to layer feed if you choose or just supply oyster shells for the calcium.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Switching to grower now will be OK. What is the protein percentage of the 2 feeds? That's the primary difference between the 2.
If only feeding prepared chicken feed, grit isn't absolutely necessary but it is good for developing the gizzard and I provide appropriate sized grit to all ages.

 

[CountryHeart06]

So I did a search for grower feed on the Southern States website and the Tractor Supply website and Southern States didn't appear to have any and all Tractor Supply had was this:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/dumorreg;-chick-starter-grower-20%-feed-50-lb

It appears to be crumbles. It looks like it's starter feed that doubles as grower feed which doesn't need grit, am I right? Does anyone out there use grower feed and if so what kind and where do you purchase yours? Thanks!

 

[donrae]

So I did a search for grower feed on the Southern States website and the Tractor Supply website and Southern States didn't appear to have any and all Tractor Supply had was this:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/dumorreg;-chick-starter-grower-20%-feed-50-lb

It appears to be crumbles. It looks like it's starter feed that doubles as grower feed which doesn't need grit, am I right? Does anyone out there use grower feed and if so what kind and where do you purchase yours? Thanks!

No commercial feed needs grit to digest. Starter, layer, whatever...none if it needs grit.

Grit is needed when birds eat things other than commercial feed, like seeds, greens, things like that. Birds don't have teeth or saliva, so grit is the first step in breaking down food for digestion.