Changing chick feed

[Motherhen410]

I have 10 week old chicks and they have been eating mana pro medicated chick started, well ive only been getting it in these little bags and im just wanting to get bigger bags but I cant find any, so im wanting to switch feed, the mana pro says to feed up to 8 weeks.

what is the best way of changing feeds?

1. slowing mix the new feed in with the old feed (like you do with dogs and cats)

2. Just start feeding them the new feed.


Also what should they be eating now since there 10 weeks (I have 3 pullets and 1 roo)

 

[SueT]

You can mix the new w old. I like Purina Flock Raiser, I give it to all my chickens of every age. With you having only 4 chickens, tho, it will take a long time to use up a 50 lb bag, if that's what you have to buy. Check the date on the bag, get something less than 6 weeks old, and store it carefully. I divide mine into buckets lined with plastic bags and store them in the house, not the barn or basement.

 

[Motherhen410]

You can mix the new w old. I like Purina Flock Raiser, I give it to all my chickens of every age. With you having only 4 chickens, tho, it will take a long time to use up a 50 lb bag, if that's what you have to buy. Check the date on the bag, get something less than 6 weeks old, and store it carefully. I divide mine into buckets lined with plastic bags and store them in the house, not the barn or basement.

I also have 2 older hens, that are about 3 years old, it was one of my hens that hatched the babies

 

[SueT]

Well, then you can feed them all the same feed if you get Purina Flock Raiser or another brand of all flock type feed. Hens can have oyster shell on the side.....

 

[Motherhen410]

Well, then you can feed them all the same feed if you get Purina Flock Raiser or another brand of all flock type feed. Hens can have oyster shell on the side.....

Thank you, I got my hens when they where 9 months old, so ive never had chicks before

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You could get also get 'grower' feed..... that's also an option. Tractor Supply carries them in 20 pound bags (Dumor brand) that will last you a bit longer than those 5 pound Pro Mana chick starter and save you a bunch of money, it's the same price as that 5 pound feed, I think.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

Mine ate non-medicated chick starter until they started laying, 17 weeks, since they had oyster shells separate they did fine with a cut-over.

 

[Motherhen410]

You could get also get 'grower' feed..... that's also an option. Tractor Supply carries them in 20 pound bags (Dumor brand) that will last you a bit longer than those 5 pound Pro Mana chick starter and save you a bunch of money, it's the same price as that 5 pound feed, I think.

I bought that, starter/grower 20lbs bag, I planned on getting the all flock feed when my older hens run out of food

 

[PetesChicks]

I feed all my chickens Purina Flock Raiser also, with oyster shell on the side. They get a heaping scoop each of fermented (I use a kitchen mixing spoon) every day and have dry available 24/7. I went through a 2 or 3 bags of Dumor Chick Feed when I first got my babies this spring and switched them to the Flock Raiser after that.