General Feeding Instructions

[flewthecoup]

New to the site.....but I'm liking it a lot. I've gathered quite a bit of great info! Anyway, my question is the whole feeding strategy. My relatives and this site all seem to have a wide variety of 'what to do'.

First 4-weeks: chick starter mesh?...no oyster shell or grit?
Transfer chicks outside: Layer mesh / oyster shell / grit (all 2x daily?)

These will be Buff Orph and Black Aust.

These chicks have plenty of space in side the coup as well as a nice run, but the run will be foraged down at some point so I can't completely depend on the run as substance, but I will let them out a bit once in awhile and also give them treats...1x every day or so? Is the dirt enough...or do I really need to give them grit too?

Also, I want to use a quality food, but do you go with the chick starter mesh with the medicine in it or do you try to go organic.....do you end up having quite a few more health problems if you just go with a standard layer mesh. Does it have enough calcium in it to not have to also mix in oyster shell? Handful of questions I know, but I see so many different opinions, not sure what to do. Haven't had chickens in awhile....so I'm trying to gather the best info this time! Thanks.

 

[Sonya9]

I believe you want to keep them on the chick starter until they start laying (at 5-6 months or so). The layer feed has too much calcium for chicks and too much is not a good thing. Chicks don't need oyster shells (until they start laying and usually not even then) but being offered grit is a good thing once they are eating grass, meal worms, etc... They need grit to be able to "grind it up", but they don't need it for soft mushy foods or chick starter. If you start feeding non-soft treats or putting them outside for short periods where they will eat grass/bugs you should offer some grit.

The medicated feed is specifically to prevent against coccidia. If your chicks were vaccinated for it they don't need medicated food, but if they were NOT vaccinated it is a very very good idea. A lot of chicks already carry coccidia and won't get sick BUT it can get "out of control" and become deadly especially to the little ones hence the medicated feed. That's also why you want to keep their food and water poop free, if they poop in it and ingest that it could raise the level of coccidia to dangerous amounts.

As far as how much to feed mine are 8 weeks now and I give them more starter food when their dish is empty. They don't free range all that much but as they do more of that they seem to eat far less food. I give treats once or twice a day, i always try to give them cooked oatmeal or pasta before bedtime now that they are living outside (and I want them to learn to run to the coop at dusk, treats seem to do the trick).

 

[Den in Penn]

Starter 4-8 weeks then grower till they are laying or POL. Or start with a starter/grower till POL. Grit (stone), no oyster shell, till they lay. Depending on you soil, if it is more rocky, you may never have to give any grit. The medicated or not is your choice, but if you want organic you have to start organic and stay organic, no meds. Standard layer has every thing the hen needs to lay the feed should induce no health problems for a laying hen. Its the non layers that will have problems with the extra calcium in layer. Most give them the oyster shell as a side dish if they are getting thin shells. Normally the layer provides enough.