Feeding Chicks

[vonniefisher]

I'm new to BYC and LOVE the wealth of information that I have found here. I just have a couple of questions regarding feeding. 1) How long do you feed them the "chick starter feed"? I have 4 birds that are 1 month old. Once you start feeding them the "layer feed" I also need to give them scratch, grit, and oyster shells? Is that correct? Do you just throw all of those things in a bucket and let them have at it? I realize that this is probably basic chicken knowledge, and I apologize. Thanks for any info.

 

[WooingWyandotte]

Welcome to BYC! =) Yeah, there is a TON of info on here.

I generally keep my pullets on chick feed till I notice their bodies start to change/pin bones widening, etc. Generally around 4-5 months. So the scratch is optional because they are basically chicken treats that most people scatter on the ground (however if you put the treats in one spot and kept it full ALL the time, the chickens may start to prefer the treats over their regular pellet).

Oyster shell I've either mixed in with their lay feed or set in a separate container where they had free choice.

I've never actually fed grit to my chickens, because the grit (I believe, anyone correct me if this is incorrect) is solely for aiding the gizzard which is a muscle in the bird that collects the small rocks that chickens pick up as they peck on the ground, and grinds them all together till digestible. Because my birds peck on the ground all the time (and butcher time reveals no shortage of rocks in their gizzard), I assume they get all they need from just being chickens.

However, I'm sure you could mix in the grit with their lay feed, or have a separate container for it tied to the fence or something.

 

[vonniefisher]

AWESOME - thanks for the info. VERY HELPFUL !! I definitely do not want them favoring the "scratch" over their regular feed.

 

[WooingWyandotte]

No problem! Have a fun with your peeps!

 

[Beer can]

Welcome to BYC!
You will get lots of opinions here. I don't switch to layer pellets until they are close to laying age. I just switch from chick starter to grower when they get their real feathers. I had 15 once I never fed oyster shell and they always had nice thick shells on their eggs. Layer feed should give them everything they need. The feed store I used switched feeds and their shells got thin, I mentioned it to him and he said oh just give them oyster shell. My thought was they were fine before so I went to a different feed store and eggs went back to normal.
The batch I have now free range a lot more, eat more vegetation and some table scraps plus I throw them some scratch so I just started giving them oyster shell, free choice in a container attached to the wall of the coop by the feeder. They just eat what they need and don't eat much of it at all.
Grit, mine get plenty of stones and dirt even in their run when I don't let them out so they don't need grit.

 

[DanEP]

If all your feeding your chicks is starter they don't need grit yet. Grit will be needed when you give them other foods like greens or they start eating bugs and grass. And as wooingwyndotte said if their out scratching around the ground they will find their own grit, I know I haven't bought grit in years and I raise chicks every year with no problems With 4 girls your starter will last you quite a while so when that's gone get a bag of grower and go from there. The week you start to feed layer is not cut in stone so don't worry about it just not to early. I never start layer before 18 weeks and if I have grower left I feed it till it's gone then start layer. It won't hurt a thing for your girls to start layer late in fact I usually have a mixed age flock so I just feed all flock to every body. All flock is just a grower food. I feed oyster shell in a small bowl screwed to the wall, most of the girls never touch it but some don't get enough calcium from the layer and eat it. I pay about 8 bucks a bag for it here and it lasts over a year so I'd rather go ahead and offer it in case they need it.

 

[vonniefisher]

Thanks so much for the info - VERY HELPFUL I am so glad I found this site. It's good to know i have somewhere to go with questions. I am loving "the girls". I have 2 rhode island reds and 2 americauna. I have only had them a month, but I'm hooked. I can't wait for eggs.

 

[chickengr]

Thanks so much for the info - VERY HELPFUL I am so glad I found this site. It's good to know i have somewhere to go with questions. I am loving "the girls". I have 2 rhode island reds and 2 americauna. I have only had them a month, but I'm hooked. I can't wait for eggs.

I am fermenting scratch for all the chickens (about 10 months old) and I mix some with chick's feed. these babies just love it and enjoy scratching all day long. I also chop some garlic, lemon balm, basil, dandelion, oregano, etc.