Chick Starter to....grower pellets? Conflicted

[collegegardener]

I have a 3 8-10 wk old chicks, one 4 month old pullet, and a Cochin roo. I am not entirely sure of his age. I have read in a few different places that chicks need grower pellets at 10 wks. However, on the back of the naturewise chick starter bag it says to feed chick starter until 16 wks. I have also read that layer feed is terrible for roos because of the high amounts of calcium so flock raiser and oyster shells are better than layer pellets. Any suggestions? Does anyone go from chick starter to grower pellets to layer pellets/flock raiser? Or just chick starter straight to layer/raiser? I'm a bit conflicted and I would like to do the best for my birds. Thanks!

 

[lightchick]

I don't know......I bought a chick starter that's a grower too. It says to feed it until 22 weeks.
Maybe you should find that kind of feed.

 

[collegegardener]

I have been using nature wise chick starter and it says to use until 16 wks then switch to layer pellet, but other sources that I have read says differently. I read that not feeding a grower would cause them to grow too quickly and not allow their bones and such to develop correctly. I also found out that the local co-op sells chick starter for $0.50 per lb and since I do not buy much at a time, its much cheaper for me. However, I'm not sure of the brand or what is in the co-op feed. I think it may be just corn crumbles, but not sure.

 

[LRH97]

I've always fed starter/grower until the first egg is laid. It's just easier that way so I don't have to keep track of how long I've been feeding the starter/grower feed. As for the roos, they have been content with the layer feed. All are healthy, beautiful, and are big womanizers. I also use Naturewise starter, by the way.

 

[lightchick]

I use Naturewise chick Starter/grower.