Could any of you great chicken people tell me how long I should feed chicken starter?

[Arete]

I was wondering how long I feed chicken starter to my 11 girls and 1 guy? They are approx. 2 1/2-3 months old, not even sure about age. I got them from my local feed store June 15th but was given a discount because was told they were older.

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. Until your girls start laying is fine. You can switch them over to an All Flock feed now and continue feeding that forever with oyster shell available for the additional calcium your layers need. The roo doesn't need the extra calcium you find in layer feed and if you hatch any chicks they shouldn't have it. The roo will leave it alone, chicks will as well.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I feed starter/ grower all the way up until they start laying then feed all flock with oyster shell on the side for the hens.

 

[MarkJr]

Feed it until it’s gone, then switch to feed of choice. All flock or other calcium free feed would be best for the cockerel. Just put oyster shell on the side.

I give the whole flock 24% starter when my broody has chicks. They seem to love it with zero side effects. Puts weight back on chicks and broody, and when combined with free ranging (everyone, chicks, broody and flock) I think it keeps protein up enough for decent growth and egg production.

No chicks present I run all flock pellets. Can’t remember if they are 18 or 20%

 

[Arete]

Thank you everyone for the input, I really appreciate it! Does anyone have an opinion on their age? Do they look to be 2.5 months old to you guys?

 

[igorsMistress]

Thank you everyone for the input, I really appreciate it! Does anyone have an opinion on their age? Do they look to be 2.5 months old to you guys?

Maybe. It can be hard to tell for sure. When your girls have combs and they start to turn red it won't be long until they begin to lay.

 

[Arete]

Maybe. It can be hard to tell for sure. When your girls have combs and they start to turn red it won't be long until they begin to lay.

Thanks for taking the time to reply!! I haven't had chickens since I was a child and I am upward of 50 now, lol

 

[Emmeran]

We feed ours Starter Crumbles until they get big enough to eat the pellets and free range. At that point we moved them to a 50/50 mix of All-Flock pellets & Scratch twice a day, we sow it in their forage area. They also get kitchen scraps, although we don't put out meat scraps as it tends to draw predators.

For calcium we save our egg shells, bake & crush them and put them in a separate feed bowl; they seem to know when they need the boost.

For the very hard moments during the winter (I'm in New England) we keep a feed block we can put in the coop when it's too cold for them to go into the run. I prefer the Wild Game feed block for it's mixture of seeds.

 

[MommyGirl]

Thank you everyone for the input, I really appreciate it! Does anyone have an opinion on their age? Do they look to be 2.5 months old to you guys?

I have silver laced Wyandottes that were born June 16th and yours look about same age as mine

 

[igorsMistress]

Thanks for taking the time to reply!! I haven't had chickens since I was a child and I am upward of 50 now, lol

It'll come back and you'll learn new things all the time. At least I still do. Welcome back to keeping chickens!