At what age do I start oyster shell, and other stuff

[AnotherKim]

From what I understand I need to keep the brats on chick starter until they start laying. Do I wait on the oyster shell until then? They're only between seven and eight weeks now.

I wanter to try making fodder. Can I start them on that now? Do I need to start offering gritt before I give them fodder?

I've noticed that since I've moved them to the coop, they aren't eating as much chick starter. I have sand inside the coop and hay in the run. There isn't any green in there, so brat children must be finding bugs. They're still growing and putting on weight, so I guess they're ok.

 

[Den in Penn]

They won't need the extra calcium in the oyster shell until they start to make the calcium rich egg shells. So you can hold off till then for the oyster shell. If they have other foods the feed then access to grit is a good thing. From the ground they stand on or what you provide.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I give my chicks layer feed when they hit 16-17 weeks old, (depending on the breed.) no matter if they are laying or not. I start giving oyster shell when I actually get the first egg. Grit I give free choice if they are eating anything other then their feed.

 

[Fireman Bill]

The pullets wont eat the oyster shell unless they need it anyhow. So having it out wont hurt,

 

[AnotherKim]

Thanks for the help. Unfortunately I won't need it now. Stupid me didn't latch the run gate properly and came home to dead chickens. My dogs must have decided they were squeeky /toys. I'm just numb and pretty disgusted with myself.

So tomorow/ I'm taking the kids to pick out new chicks. A new locbk system is going on the run, tooThis just makes me sick. I'm hoping they didn't suffer.

 

[AnotherKim]

Thanks for the help. Unfortunately I won't need it now. Stupid me didn't latch the run gate properly and came home to dead chickens. My dogs must have decided they were squeeky /toys. I'm just numb and pretty disgusted with myself.

So tomorow/ I'm taking the kids to pick out new chicks. A new locbk system is going on the run, tooThis just makes me sick. I'm hoping they didn't suffer.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

That is awful that they died! I am so sorry.

 

[ducks2chickens]

What is the oyster shell for.

 

[AnotherKim]

Thank you Chicks Galore. duckstochicks, oyster shell is for calcium.

 

[locoguru]

Very sorry for you loss.