AHHH! Too many choices! Help !!

[newchickiefarmer]

Okay so I have 3 little chickies all 3 weeks old right now. I went to the store the other day to pick up some pine shavings and I figured while I was there I may as well price out some feed. I'm totally confused now.

...for example..Chick starter 18% layer? what the heck does this all mean? The hatchery guy I bought my chickies from gave me a bag of starter, but it was just from his own stash so I don't even know what I should be feeding them when this food runs out. Someone help?

 

[Frizzledhen]

Ya feed chick starter until the little buggers are about 16 to 18 weeks old. Then ya start feeding the big buggers layer. This is the simple way to go but it can get very confussing if ya want to get into starter, finisher, high protien for fattening the buggers and layer. Stay simple, it works.

 

[newchickiefarmer]

Thanks! But I'm still a bit confused...when I go to the store to buy the feed...am I just buying the bag that says starter for another 14 weeks? Do I ignore the whole "layer" thing until then?

 

[kinnip]

Yes.

 

[Frizzledhen]

Oh, I forgot, there is the choice of medicated or non medicated too. If your chicks were vaccinated for cocci, don't feed medicated feed. If they were not, as most bought from feed stores aren't, then you have the choice to feed medicated or not to feed medicated.

 

[newchickiefarmer]

Yay! (chalking one up) thanks!!

 

[purr]

I went from starter to grower and when they are 17wks I'm going to layer

 

[Frizzledhen]

That's what confused me in the beginning. Starter, grower, finisher and layer. Then I went to my local feed store and they carried only chick starter and layer. It has worked for me for the past 2 years. I for one didn't have enough barrels to hold all that different feed and then to remember who gets what food when was a pain also.

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

Most of the feeds I have seen have a chart on the bag with an age range for what feed to use.

 

[cjeanean]

Stay away from layer feed until they're at laying age! Layer feed has too much calcium and can cause kidney failure and death. Stick with starter or all purpose!