Advice with what feed to buy and when please

[nminusyplusm]

Is the Lake Elsinore store closer to you?

edited: It's not available at the L.E. store.

 

[Coop's Coop]

Hello! Cute birds Once they are all 8 weeks old, you can switch them over to grower feed (the next step after starter). You will feed them grower until they are 18 weeks old. Once they are 18 weeks, they can start eating later pellets. Your girls are almost at the right age. So, I would recommend buying some bags of grower feed. Also, your girls are just about old enough to go outside. They can go out at around 6-8 weeks, especially in your nice weather.

I personally don’t know any great organic brands, but I’m sure others on here would be happy to share their opinions!

As for the mashed crumble, they are more than old enough to eat plain crumble. You should be just fine! Of course, if they have trouble eating it, blend it up. But they should be perfectly fine.

Hope this helps, good luck with your birds!

Thanks for all the info! I guess I’ll get a small bag of starter then if I run out of the current bag before they are all 8 weeks. They have been going outside on nice days during the day for small trips since they were a week old ( it was nice and warm in the 80’s). Now they go into their coop and run every day that it’s above 65F. Been doing that about 10 days now. I still bring them in at night though. I’m trying to train them to go in the coop at dark and the big girls got it but the Silkies are a bit scared to go up the ladder ( they are ok with down though).

 

[Coop's Coop]

Is the Lake Elsinore store closer to you?

Yes but it didn’t come up in the store finder on TSC, only Temecula.

 

[Coop's Coop]

I have grit available always... and feed starter until 4 wks or the bag runs out, whichever is last. Then I feed grower. When their combs redded up I have oyster shell on the side... I have found my eggs hatch better with the higher protein of the grower...

Ok thanks! They have always had grit available as we give them small amounts of fruit and veg and quinoa every other day. Some say starter till 8 weeks... seems to be differing opinions on this. At any rate I’ll be done with the 13lb bag of starter in a few days time. They eat and waste a lot!

 

[Coop's Coop]

Every manufacturer has different formulas and several types of feed intended for different ages based on those formulas.
When you get to Tractor Supply, read the bags. Every one will have a chart for ages and types of chickens and which of their feeds are appropriate. Now that you've gone through a bag you have an idea of how much more you'll need to reach the next age milestone.
Going by the manufacturers' instructions on the bag is much more accurate than getting random advice from others who may be buying different feeds.

Thanks for the advice! I’ll do that too but it’s nice to hear what people have tried that works to produce healthy chickens. This is our first time

 

[rjohns39]

Thanks for the recommendation. I’m looking forward to the trip over the hill to TSC. We are in Mission Viejo in OC.

There are two farms within an hour and a half of you that might be worth a call. They have to get there feed from somewhere and likely they'll share where they get it or be willing to sell you a bag or two. Don't be surprised if they want to sell you some food as well.
Happy Hens They are certified organic and soy/corn free.
Pasturebird, Inc They use feeds organically grown but not certified organic. Non-GMO & Soy Free.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I think I fed the starter feed (non-medicated) until about 16 weeks and then changed them over to an All Flock feed. For a short time after the girls began laying I gave them layer feed, but have switched back to All Flock. My preferred brand is Country Lane All Flock Crumbles, but when they are out I get Nutrena Nature Wise All Flock Pellets. They seem to prefer the crumbles over pellets.

Layer feed is not necessary, but more of a choice. It does have added calcium that the boys don't need.

Edited to add: Wasted feed stinks..... I've tried a lot of things, and what is working best for me now is that I un-hung the hanging feeders and instead placed one in one of those big black rubber bowls. Now the feed falls in the bowl, but there isn't enough room to scratch it all out.

 

[Coop's Coop]

I'd also pickup some grit for them and offer it free choice. As far as stockpiling feed, grower has a 4-6 month shelf life. Are you in a pretty rural area? It's possible that there may be a feed mill closer to you. As far as moving to layer, there's no hard and fast rush other than cost to get there. You'll need to offer oyster shell free choice when they start showing signs of being ready to lay. I have my feed custom blended so I don't have any particular brands that I'm fond of.

Thank you! They have always had chick grit available to them so I’ll continue that. Oyster shell is on my list. Great point about the feed freshness and lifespan! We aren’t rural, heavily suburban actually, and we are definitely that weird family with chicks! Lol!the few feed stores here have like one brand option of food. I think it’s worth the drive to see all the options at TSC.

 

[Coop's Coop]

There are two farms within an hour and a half of you that might be worth a call. They have to get there feed from somewhere and likely they'll share where they get it or be willing to sell you a bag or two. Don't be surprised if they want to sell you some food as well.
Happy Hens They are certified organic and soy/corn free.
Pasturebird, Inc They use feeds organically grown but not certified organic. Non-GMO & Soy Free.

Awesome! Thank you and I will look into those!

 

[rjohns39]

I try to follow the Sustainable Poultry Network feed guidelines, which are a bit more complicated. Starter 1st quarter of development, grower 2nd quarter, then split pullets and cockerels and feed appropriate developer for the 3rd quarter, then cockerels that will be breeders go to holding while pullets go to layer and cockerels and pullets that won't be kept go to a finisher.