Chick Starter is a Huge Hit with the Flockers

[Farmgirl1878]

My Flockers are funny birds... I’ve got six eight-day old chicks running around, so they have their medicated chick starter in “their” feeder. For the past seven days, the big girls have been chowing down on chick starter! They’re eating me out of house and home. No obvious problems as of yet.

For those of you who last your broodies raise the chicks with the rest of the flock, is this something you’ve seen before? The big girls (and even my roo!) eat a lot of chick starter, but don’t seem to have any problems. Poop is normal, eggs are normal, behavior is normal...

I want the chicks to eat mostly starter, but they’re eating out of the big birds’ feeders! They’re normal too and growing like weeds... I’m not overly concerned, just wanted to hear your experiences.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Cute pics! I'm not surprised broodies would choose chick starter over layer - they may need the extra protein after their marathon incubation sessions.

Since I have a flock with mixed species and ages, and to ensure chicks eat starter, I feed everyone a fermented 21% protein chick starter base and modify for specific groups as needed (e.g., lower protein for waterfowl 3 weeks and up plus added nutritional yeast). For layers, I offer free choice oyster shell and everyone gets grit sized appropriately for them. Everyone is happy and healthy, and they are pastured or free range, depending on age, so they also forage. Good for them and it works nicely for me, too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Starter usually has higher protein and the small crumb is preferred by some adult chickens as well, so that's why they'll happily chow down on it.

You're better off feeding everyone starter (though personally I'd switch off medicated if the hens are eating it too) than trying to keep all the feed separate for the different ages.

 

[Criticalicious]

Or you could switch everyone to grower/broiler/all-flock (a happy medium). Everyone will be fine. Be sure layers have oyster shell free fed on the side.

 

[Chickassan]

Baby food is gourmet stuff don't you know! It has even been known to tempt adults that haven't been eating so well.
Know for a fact it is a major reason some of these are even a little O.K with chick season.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I feed Flock Raiser (20%) to chicks after a month on Medicated Starter. I also ferment, put out separate dish of Oyster Shells when the laying starts. I've found the hens look way healthier, shiny feather aside from the add benefits of fermenting. Made sense when I read about feeding layers higher protein feed ... Physically they're body is hard at work, needing the extra energy to make our eggs. BOSS & MealWorms are their only treats at the end of the day.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Or you could switch everyone to grower/broiler/all-flock (a happy medium). Everyone will be fine. Be sure layers have oyster shell free fed on the side.

They do...

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I feed Flock Raiser (20%) to chicks after a month on Medicated Starter. I also ferment, put out separate dish of Oyster Shells when the laying starts. I've found the hens look way healthier, shiny feather aside from the add benefits of fermenting. Made sense when I read about feeding layers higher protein feed ... Physically they're body is hard at work, needing the extra energy to make our eggs. BOSS & MealWorms are their only treats at the end of the day.

I’ve never tried fermenting feed. Our environment is extremely humid and chock full of mold and mildew, so not sure if that would work well here. I’d do everything in the house of course, but still...

My girls (and boy) get a little scratch when they come into the run when called and the occasional scatter of mealworms or BOSS.

 

[Blooie]

So cute!!! My entire mixed flock - roosters, layers, chicks of assorted ages, and freeloaders all get the same food. I buy one small bag of starter for the little Littles in the very beginning, just because the smaller crumbles are easier for them when they’re learning to eat? When that's gone they eat what everyone else gets - either All Flock or Grower, depending on which my local feed store has in stock or whichever has the best freshness date. I provide a separate container of oyster shells for the layers. My flock is healthy, content, and production is just fine....no decrease in egg or egg shell quality. As you’ve seen, you can’t keep ‘em out of each other’s food anyway. I start mingling chicks with the adults between 2-3 weeks old, by the end of the third week they are with them all day long, and by 4 weeks I take the brooder pen completely out and they are fully integrated. Having them all used to one food helps tremendously!

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Lol, yeah Blooie, it was easier with the first two batches of Littles. They were raised in the brooder and integrated after a couple of weeks. These little ‘uns were raised by one of my first group of chicks (Goldie) who is just a year old. Once she got broody in her favorite nest box, I just left her sit... She’s doing a great job, and they’re already integrated into the flock. (It helps that she’s the alpha female.)

I don’t think it’ll hurt the chicks to eat the all-flock. I’ve got the rubber pans full of all-flock crumbles and pellets and the micro-minis are eating everything. If they can’t break up a large crumble, they just chow down on a crumble. And they’re already eating worms, grubs, and catching flies in mid-air!

It’s really different to have Momma do all the work - no pasty butt, no added mess, no stink (well, no more than usual anyway!). I’m thinking of letting her do the work every time now!