Feed Recommendations

[Jordan1795]

Hello all- I am a soon to be new chicken owner, and would like some feed recommendations for chicks. What age should they be transitioned to adult food?

 

[lazy gardener]

You can start them on multi flock starter, or chick starter. The multi-flock will be about 20 - 22% protein, and not medicated. The chick starter will be less protein, and either medicated or not medicated. One thing you should do is check to be sure the bag of feed you buy has a fairly recent date on it. Feed looses nutrients the longer it sits around. If you have an all female flock, you can keep them on starter for 6 - 8 weeks, transition to grower until they start laying, then start them on layer. Or you can keep them on multi-flock year round and supplement with oyster shell.

Very young chicks may need their starter crumble buzzed in the blender to make those bigger chunks easier to eat.

 

[ChickenWaterer]

Lazy Gardener is right -- you should check the code date or ask the store owner about how quickly the feed is selling.

What feed to give to what type of chickens and when can be a little confusing. We put together a chart on when to switch feeds and posted it to our blog. Here's the link: Chicks To Chickens How To Choose Their Feed