Help with feed??

[yodercountrygirl]

I have chicken from 16wks to 8 wks.They are all together. They have been on chick starter until today. We gave them crumbles(?)... was that right??? Actually it is Fancy Scratch Grains. (My Hubby got the bag.)What do I do??? I am new at this chicken stuff and I don't know exactly what feed is right. I know not to give the little ones layer feed.
Alittle advice would be great!!

 

[Akane]

Crumbles is a size of the feed. You can have layer crumbles, game bird crumbles, chick starter crumbles. Most of those you can replace crumbles with the word pellets or mash and you have the same thing just in different size pieces.

The oldest ones could start on layer feed or you can wait till they lay their first egg. If they are together and can't be fed seperate things you can continue to feed them all chick starter or switch them all to grower and just put out a dish of oyster shell for the older ones to get enough calcium to make eggs but it's best to only use nonmedicated chick starter or grower if your doing that. It's not good to feed medicated starter to adults for too long. Your younger ones should continue to eat chick starter or grower for another month or 2.

 

[yodercountrygirl]

Thanks for the info.... I think I need to go and get the right kind tomorrow.

 

[speckledhen]

If it's actually scratch, that isn't the regular feed. Layer crumbles or layer pellets is what you want, either one will do. Scratch is more of a treat.

 

[Gonzo]

I have the same problem with the age differences... I try to give the older girls their layer feed while everyone is out in the yard, when I put them to bed, I mix the layer crumble in with the grower. I would avoid the scratch grains for food, it's more of a treat. I reserve the scratch grains for really rainy days when the chickens are "cooped up" to help keep them from getting bored. the scratch is like giving them candy.. Hope this helps!

 

[yodercountrygirl]

Thanks everyone. I am sure the chickens loved having their treat for 24hrs!!! I will get "Real" food for them today!!

 

[PatS]

We call scratch, "crack." The chickens go berserk for it!