I'm so excited - after years of wanting to do this, I finally have chicks! We bought 12 from Tractor Supply - two Buff Orpingtons, 6 Barred Rocks and 4 White Leghorns (though one has feathers on its feet?!). I'm feeding them Dumor Chick Starter/Grower 20% and have added, in another dish, some NutriSource Chick Grit (crushed granite). I'm reading several food related terms I don't know - layer ???, mash? Also not sure if my feed is medicated? Anyone familiar?
your chick starter is probly med feed.layer pellets are just a pelleted feed.mash is a fine powdery type of feed.
I started with the Dumor feed from TSC and it is not medicated. After about a week of feeding the Dumor to my chicks, I went to our local co-op and got a bag of medicated feed for my reassurance! You don't need to worry about layer feed right now. Just feed them the starter. It has all the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow right. Just keep hanging around here and you will soon learn all of the terms and everything that you ever wanted to know about chickens! By the way, ! Edited for spelling errors. OOPS
Welcome to BYC When intoducing chicks to grit, it should be mixed in with their food. If it is fed separately the chicks might eat too much of it all at once. Actually chicks don't need grit unless you are feeding treats.
Welcome! Check your feed bag carefully to see what ii says. Mine says medicated on the front. Have fun with your chicks!!!