chick crop

[Bosque]

I am getting ready to hatch my first chickens this week. My question is does a chick need sand to swallow to help grind up his food in his crop? I plan on feeding them chick starter. How long do they eat the starter? Cannot wait...
Thank you for your information.
bosque

 

[g_a_brand]

This is what my local co-op sugested we do -feed medicated chick starter up to 6 weeks
than feed medicaed grower till apx 15 weeks than start interducing lay rations , I know I have to start adding gravel to them soon as well but Im not sure when , hopefully someone with more experence can give you better info

 

[gritsar]

If you are feeding them nothing but starter they don't need grit. You'll need to offer grit after you start giving them other foods (treats), although I didn't offer grit for the soft foods like yogurt and chopped hard boiled egg.
If seperate starter and grower is available where you live you can keep them on starter until about 6 to 8 weeks and then switch them to grower. If all that's available is a combo. starter/grower you can keep them on that until 18 to 20 weeks or when you get your first egg; whichever comes first. Then you switch to layer feed, assuming you're hatching layers.
Good luck with your hatch.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts.

I use medicated Starter crumbles up to 8 weeks.
Grower Crumbles or pellets from 8 weeks until you get your first egg.
Layer from first egg on.

I use medicated Starter/Grower I feed it to the birds until I get my first egg then I switch over to Layer. If I have any Starter, Starter/Grower or Grower left over when I get my first egg, I mix in the leftover feed with the Layer feed. I have never had any problems. The amprollium in the starter helps in the chicks development in their resistance to cocci. It is sulfa based. There is only a problem eating the eggs layed by the birds that have had the medicated feed when they start to lay if you have any allergies to Sulfa.