Hello from Florida

Date sort Score sort
amandarae

amandarae

Chirping
5 Years
Mar 7, 2014
9
0
57
gainesville fl
I got my first chicks 3 weeks ago. I am totally new to this and have no idea what I am doing. I would appreciate any advice. have 3 hens 4 week old Rhode Island reds. I have heard different things about feeding them. Now they are still on starter, I just started offering grit to offer treats and because they are just starting to spend a tiny bit of time out side. Am I supposed to switch to "grower" at what age? And do I change to layer at 4 or 5 months? And is there any trick to introducing them to dogs? 1 of my dogs is fine with them, but im not sure the other 2 will ever be able to be around them. :(
 
images


You can keep them on starter feed until they are ready to lay, then switch over to layer feed. You will know when they are close to laying because the combs, faces and wattles will be very red, the girls will squat down for you.

Stop by our learning center here on BYC for lots of tips and hints on raising and keeping your new flock...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Good luck with your babies and welcome to BYC!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! X2, most people keep them on starter until they are ready to lay or when you see your first egg then switch to Layer. If you are going to use a Grower feed that is usually between 10 and 18/20 weeks, most commercial Grower brands say then to start Layer at about 18 weeks which is usually when the commercial layers breeds are close to ready to lay.
Some dogs are never safe with chickens, no matter now much you work with them, here is a good thread that discusses a lot of training techniques people have used https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/778988/training-a-dog-to-leave-chickens-alone
 
Less stress if the dogs and chickens are never allowed to meet. It usually ends tragically for the chickens when they do.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom