My girls are 10 weeks and I am needing more feed. Should I move to pellets or can I keep them on crumble all their lives? Are there advantages to the pellets?
If grower pellets are available then you could switch them now. Otherwise definitely give layer pellets a try when they are ready for layer feed at 18 to 20 weeks. Much less waste.
I shifted a group of 10-11 week olds to pellets this Monday. They're a 20% grower pellet. The pellets are smaller than a layer pellet, and the nutrition is balanced for chicks rather than pullets/hens.
They were a little testy about it for the first day, and very wasteful scattering them on Tuesday. Yesterday they were a bit better about it.
Interesting thing though....we also have some 6-7 week olds. I tried the pellets on them just to see their reaction. They ate them up better than the older chicks! So yesterday, I filled their feeder with only pellets. They gobbled them right up throughout the day with no waste.
I switched my flock over to the pellets soon as they were old enough. Much less waste. I kinda feel bad for them when the feed store accidently gives me the crumbles now....poor chickens sneeze while they eat!
When my chicks are of age to eat pellets I switch them over. I can't get grower pellets here by me. Pellets definitely have less waste. I really don't have any at all. If some get knocked out they eat them off the floor. They are also mouse/rat proof they seem to not like them.
I will have to agree with the others. Feed them at least 20% weither they be pellets or crumbles. Then when they start laying, 18-24 weeks, then go to layer pellets or cumbles. I use pellets myself. Much less waste and less dust for me too. I hope this helps. What ever works best for you.