can I feed baby chicks regular chicken feed blended up instead of chick starter?

[shannoncat]

I only have 3 chicks so a full bag of chick starter would be too much for them and I'd end up wasting money

 

[PatrickRoo]

I only have 3 chicks so a full bag of chick starter would be too much for them and I'd end up wasting money

Do you mean is it okay to use layer feed instead of chick starter? If that's the case, then no. The calcium in layer feed is too high for a growing chick. You should switch to layer feed at 5-6 months old, depending on the breed. You can buy 5 pound bags of chick starter online or at a local feed store.

 

[shannoncat]

the local feed store only has the 50lb bags and it usually takes 1-2 weeks for things to arrive in the mail

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is your regular chicken feed? How much calcium does it have? The percentage should be on the label. Excess calcium can cause internal medical problems. Layer has 3% to 4% calcium, that's too much. Most other feed has somewhere around 1%, which is fine.

The way many of us get around this dilemma is to feed all the chickens the chick feed, Starter or Grower, and offer oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the extra calcium for egg shells seem to know it and eat the oyster shell while the ones that don't need that much don't eat enough to harm themselves.

Since I practically always have younger chickens in my flock I never feed Layer, just a Grower or Starter with oyster shell on the side. Oyster shell is pretty cheap and can last for years.

If you don't have older chickens, you can just feed the Starter until the bag runs out. It won't hurt them. And until they start to lay they won't need oyster shell.

 

[PatrickRoo]

Then you should just buy the 50lb bag, I'd say. You wouldn't exactly be wasting money because if you think about it you have to repeatedly buy small bags of feed, yes? Which will end up being the same price as the large 50lb bag, yes?

 

[shannoncat]

a hen hatched them out so is it alright if she eats the starter as well? how old is too old to feed chick starter to?

 

[shannoncat]

Then you should just buy the 50lb bag, I'd say. You wouldn't exactly be wasting money because if you think about it you have to repeatedly buy small bags of feed, yes? Which will end up being the same price as the large 50lb bag, yes?

well no, i've had chick starter before and the 50lb bag was too much for them and it got wasted

 

[PatrickRoo]

well no, i've had chick starter before and the 50lb bag was too much for them and it got wasted

How was it "wasted?"

 

[shannoncat]

How was it "wasted?"

it didnt get eaten

 

[PatrickRoo]

a hen hatched them out so is it alright if she eats the starter as well? how old is too old to feed chick starter to?

20-24 weeks, depending on the breed, is when a chicken should stop eating starter feed.