chick feed question

[junior67]

my chicks are now 5 weeks old. I started them out with medicated start and grow chick feed. They are just about out so I need to buy more. Is it ok to go to unmedicated now? They are still inside in their brooder but have had some clumps of grass from my yard a few times in the brooder. Or should I stick with medicated and if so for how long?

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I think it would be fine to switch to the unmediated. Many people don’t even use medicated in the first place.

What I usually do is buy a bag of medicated, wait for them to use that, then switch to a hatch to hen unmedicated feed bag that’s a bit bigger (usually 50#) because they can use that until point of lay. (Although I usually run out of hatch to hen way before they are laying (currently have 16 chickens!) so I just use that food until they are old enough, or switch to an all flock feed after they use the second bag) not sure if this makes sense, hopefully this helps!

 

[junior67]

I think it would be fine to switch to the unmediated. Many people don’t even use medicated in the first place.

What I usually do is buy a bag of medicated, wait for them to use that, then switch to a hatch to hen unmedicated feed bag that’s a bit bigger (usually 50#) because they can use that until point of lay. (Although I usually run out of hatch to hen way before they are laying (currently have 16 chickens!) so I just use that food until they are old enough, or switch to an all flock feed after they use the second bag) not sure if this makes sense, hopefully this helps!

Thanks. it does. Ok so I will switch to the start and grow (not sure if we have the hatch to hen here but think the start and grow is the same thing). I was hoping to get a 50lb bag since they went through the last half of the 25 lb bag in about 1 1/2- 2 weeks and just keep eating more and more each day. But think my store only carries the 25 lb unless I order it to ship to the store and I don't have time for that. So guess I will get another 25lbs this time and then in a few weeks get the 50lbs. I have 10 right now so they are going through it quick as well. LOL