Chickens approaching egg laying age but seem to be losing feathers on the daily

[Bantambird]

I'm not a big time breeder, but I've hatched about 200 chicks this year, and on average, half of what is hatched will be male. We eat them, nobody really wants roosters, my kids are now so accustomed to eating our own birds they have a hard time stomaching Cornish x meat because it's so mushy and tasteless to them now. It is my least favorite part of breeding poultry.

I make my husband do the killing part as I'm too .... Chicken.... To kill them myself.

 

[aart]

Medicated feed helps prevent certain common diseases in young poultry, but if you are going to eat those cockerels when they are ready, you will want to switch to non medicated.

Most medicated starter has amprolium...not a problem to eat meat or eggs.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've been feeding the medicated Purina Flock Starter with calcium on the side for my two older gals. Should I switch to non-medicated? I have a mixed flock anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks old in addition to two cockerels and the old gals.

I like to feed Medicated Start and Grow for at least 10 weeks to day old Chicks. Then after feed runs out I switch to a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower or All-Flock/Flock Raiser crumble, 18/20% Protein.
I feed these to Pullets and Hens with Oyster Shells separately.
I don't feed a layers feed 16% anymore.

A bit about Medicated feed with Amprolium from Nutrena.

GC