9 week olds eating Layer crumbles??

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
Great info, thank you!!

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

My little ones got introduced at 6 weeks and all my birds are free range. I couldn't keep the large birds from eating the chick feed so I stopped giving the layer crumbles and they're all on flock raiser. I didn't want the little ones to eat the layer.. but the feed store gave me bad advice and my large birds started layer at 3 months. The back of the 'purina flock raiser' bag says feed until 18 weeks of age!! I'm just doing stuff I've read on here!

 

[Gypsi]

I went into the feed store last week, they know about how old my chicks are since I bought them from them, and got another bag of chick feed. I've had the chicks around 6 weeks, and they had feathers when I got them. Anyway they sold me 50 lbs of medicated chick feed. Is it OK for them to still be on it? They are starting to look like chickens, and are definitely larger than robins now. (obviously I am an inexperienced chicken person.)

 

[PurpleChicken]

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The medicated feed will be ok. Your next bag will be layer.

 

[TeriNick50]

If you talk with someone in their 80's, they'll tell you their chickens ate nothing but scraps from the table and whatever they scavenged from the barnyard. I think in today's world, we get too hyped up about about what feed to buy etc. These birds are adaptable. Just use your good common sense, don't fret too much, find joy in their antics and protect them from predators.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
Great post, thanks for that

 

[squeakyballs]

I'm as inexperienced as you are, but I'll share anyways!

I've been giving mine Starter Crumbles, and just realized that the bag says to switch them over at 6 weeks. So... I went to the feed store.

The guy at the feed store told me that "grower" and "starter" are the same thing. I told him I wanted grower anyways, and I got home and realized he had sold me medicated starter.

I don't want to give them medicated feed. I don't have the receipt, and I don't want to go back there.

So now I'm either going to feed it to them, or sell it on craigslist. I think it was $12... so maybe I can sell it for $10?

I don't know. ticked me off.

But... the momma hens tell them what to eat. So they also eat layer pellets, sunflower seeds, alfalfa hay, kitchen scraps, and whatever else they find. They look healthy and happy, and I figure the momma hens know best

 

[LizShaughnessy]

Wow, great topic, I've been wondering about this myself!

I have no idea how old mine are, they're about 4 wks to 6 wks, when I finish this bag of feed I should switch them to.......? Not sure I'm understanding all the different feed stuff. Can't they just make one and be done with it!

Also, when you feed them kitchen scraps, do you need to put it into a blender first or will the pick it apart?

Thanks for all the help

 

[squeakyballs]

I didn't blend the kitchen scraps. I diced them up a little more than I usually would though... not super tiny or anything fancy. Some of it got left as larger pieces, and they seemed to pick it apart. I don't know if the momma hens helped with that or not

 

[bibliophile birds]

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that's basically what my feed is. i'm buying organic feed from Countryside Naturals and their "starter" and "broiler" (also known as "grower" to most) is the exact same formula, the only difference being that the "starter" is more finely ground (since organic feeds aren't medicated). you could easily buy nothing but "broiler" and just grind it yourself. they offer a "layer" as well, but i run a mixed flock and don't want to feed "layer." the girls get a pan of oyster shell that they eat as they need- they are good at knowing what they need and taking care of it. the boys ate a bit the first day because they were curious, but they haven't touched it since.

so from hatch to slaughter, my birds basically eat one food. well, that and all the table/kitchen scraps they get!