Confused about feed

[Mrs.H]

My chicks are almost finished up with their medicated feed. I went online on TSC to see what they had before I go, I came across Chick starter (up to 6 weeks) and Chick starter/grower (up to 10 weeks), the Chick starter does say feed starter/grower after the 6 weeks, but the starter/grower says 0-10 weeks so what do you get?

Then im assuming its the grower/finisher (10-18 weeks) then of course the poultry layer.
Also do you guys just switch over or do you mix feeds to transition them? Do you switch by exact age or do you use up the feed instead of wasting it then switch, or buy the next step if they are close to age for the next step lets say by a week or so?

 

[Ridgerunner]

This site goes into some details on what to fed when that might help.

Oregon State Feeding Chickens
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw477/#anchor1132074

I'm not going to get into medicated-unmedicated. That is your choice. Different Tractor Supply stores offer different products. Mine only offers the combined starter/grower. I used it and it worked well.

If you have starter, feed it for the first 6 weeks. Then switch to grower. Feed that until they start to lay or they reach 20 weeks, which ever happens first.

If you have the combined starter/grower, feed that from day 1 until you switch to layer.

When I switched from one to the other, I continued to feed what I had until it was gone. I tried mixing it to gradually change them over, switching from starter/grower crumbles to layer pellets. Mine picked the pellets out and left the crumbles. I had to quit feeding the pellets until they cleaned up the crumbles. Others have had the exact opposite happen. I can't explain it. But, no, use what you have and make the switch at the approximate age. No need to waste it.

Some people like to feed their growing chicks higher protein foods to get them growing faster. I prefer not to. If you feed the higher strength foods, the chicks grow faster and may start laying earlier, before their body has developed sufficiently to handle laying. You raise the risk of prolapse or them being egg bound. Early eggs are more likely to be weird, like soft shelled, double yolked, or yolkless. University studies have shown that over the hen's productive life (this is for commercial operations) you get better overall production if you do not try to rush the start of laying. If you are raising them for meat and not eggs, the extra strength stuff is probably a good idea.

Good luck with it. Hope this helps.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I switch their feed when I need a new bag. In the old days, I did use a starter, but now I use a starter/grower, as that's what is easiest to get here. My only switch is to layer. I switch right around the time they start laying eggs. Either slightly before or slightly after. I offer oyster shell, so don't have any concerns about them still being on starter grower a little longer, to use up feed. I don't like to feed the layer, with all that extra calcium, when they aren't laying.

For the other feed changes, I really wouldn't worry too much about the exact time you switch them over.

I do mix their food 50/50 if I change it, including if I change the brand. I just do this for one feeder full, basically. I don't think my husband bothers to do this. What can I say?

They will be fine, no matter which choice you make. Mine have all turned out to be happy, healthy chickens, no matter what I was feeding. I know there are people on the forum successfully raising chicks on all of these different feeds right now. I'm sure some of them will be along soon, to offer you their opinions.

 

[ranchhand]

Waaaaay back in the dark ages, when I first got chickens, there wasn't much to choose from. So I fed medicated starter until 16-18 weeks then started mixing in layer pellets.
It's worked all these years so I have continued with the same. It makes it very easy and simple, and I have healthy, pretty birds.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I haven't bothered with grower feed in years. I either keep them on chick starter (much of it is now labeled starter/grower anyways) or move them over to a general purpose poultry feed such as Purina Flock Raiser.

If you want to use layer feed then start blending it in after you've gathered the first egg.

.....Alan.

 

[chicmom]

Hello there! I always use Dumore, chick starter/grower. Then at 20 weeks, I switch to the 16% layer formula that Dumore has.

I never used medicated feed before because TSC didn't have it with my first chicks....I know you use that for the first two weeks if you're going to use it at all.

Good luck with your chicks!

Sharon