My starter grower is 20% protein and layer is 16%. I thinj it has more to do with calcium since pps were mentioninh oyster shell.Good to know what all of you have done. I keep my new chicks in a separate pen until 9 weeks or more. The reason for that is I want them to eat chick start for as long as possible. No way would the older gals leave that alone. They think it is much tastier then their layer food. I have read that young chicks should not eat layer until 18 week because of the high protein amount. Like you all, I want my new chicks out free ranging as soon as possible. I always think of what the farmers did , the chicks were born somewhere in the barn and went out foraging as soon as mom thought it was Ok.