Feed question...

[1bzymomma]

My chicks are now almost 15weeks old. They have been eating starter feed. I sent my hubby to the store to pick up some more feed and he got laying hash (cause he knew I bought them for laying) are they too young or can I go ahead and feed it to them?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If it has added calcium, then if it were me, I would wait just awhile longer. When they are not laying, and you feed them calcium, it is not good for their kidneys, I have read. And maybe other body areas....you might be able to do a search on here for finding what bad things happen.

Your peeps are just about 4 months old. I think laying begins mostly around 5-6 months, from what I have read on here. (Some of the breeds I have might not begin laying for me until spring.)

When one of them starts to lay, that is when I would switch them to layer feed. Also give oyster shell free choice. Now for some people, when their bag has run out and it's time to buy more, I advise them to go ahead and switch. But that's when their chickens are older than yours.

Your chickens will also benefit from the higher protein content of the starter/grower feeds. (Should be 17%) as opposed to 16% layer.

Mash is an option, but when you buy your next layer bag, consider layer pellets. They are less wasteful because the chickens can recover from the ground the spilled feed.

If you do decide to wait and give them the mash later, be sure to store it in a plastic or metal bin safe from rodents and bugs (and mold). Moldy food can be deadly.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Here's a link to a thread for you:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=393768

 

[1bzymomma]

Thanks so much! Maybe he can take it back and get his money back, I think the reason he bought the layer in the first place is cause they were out of the starter feed. I appreciate all your help!

 

[CarolAnn]

My girls are 15 and 19 wks today, so when this bag of starter feed is gone I plan to replace it with layer feed. Someone on another thread said that'd be okay to do. I have the grit and oyster shell to put out this weekend after I get my run extension opened up. I found a goat feeder that I'm going to try wiring to the fence of the run for the grit and shell, just to have two less containers on the ground. Will soon see if my brainy idea will work.