Hi I am new here and new with chickens

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PapaPollo

PapaPollo

Hatching
Jun 18, 2015
8
0
7
Northwest Arkansas
At what age do I switch from crumbles to pellets? My chicks are 5 wks old now...
400
 
Welcome to BYC and the wonderful world of chickens!

Chicks should be kept on grower crumbles or grower pellets (either works) until they are a little past 2 months of age, though honestly you can wait a little longer if you want, as they don't start laying until around 6 months.

Best of luck!
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Pellets and crumbles are two FORMS of feed not types of feed. You can have the same chick food that is available in both crumble and pellet form. Same food but different shape, size, etc. Your chicks should stay on the chick feed until they are about 18 weeks. Then they can be switched their layer feed.
 
I notice you have chicken wire backing the chain link and that your gate doesn't have any backing at all. Raccoons and other predators are always looking for "loopholes" like that to do their worst. Chicken wire ONLY keeps chickens INSIDE. It does NOTHING to keep predators . Raccoons like to reach in and snag body parts, eating anything they can reach. If they don't kill a chicken outright, they usually die of hideous wounds.

They can easily bite or tear through the flimsy material. 1/2" hardware cloth backing your chain link to a height of 18-24 inches with add a major level of protection. You also have to be concerned with those that dig UNDER, climb, jump down from branches etc. A covered run will take care of that. If it is made of solid material it will also offer some protection from rain and snow.

You may want to check out the coops and predator sections for more advice on keeping predators away.
 
drumstick diva said:
I notice you have chicken wire backing the chain link and that your gate doesn't have any backing at all.  Raccoons and other predators are always looking for "loopholes" like that to do their worst.  Chicken wire ONLY keeps chickens INSIDE.  It does NOTHING to keep predators .  Raccoons  like to reach in and snag body parts, eating anything they can reach.  If they don't kill a chicken outright, they usually die of hideous wounds.

   They can easily bite or tear through the flimsy material.  1/2" hardware cloth  backing your chain link to a height of   18-24 inches with add a major level of protection.     You also have to be concerned with those that dig UNDER, climb, jump down from branches  etc.  A covered run will take care of that.  If it is made of solid material it will also offer some protection  from rain and snow.

You may want to check out the coops and predator sections for more advice on keeping predators away.

Thanks for the advice! The pen is just for daytime they go in the coop at night and the door closes automatically and the coop has the heavy duty wire etc but I definitely had to fully secure the pen door... I'll take all the advice I can get...
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Mountain Peeps said:
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Pellets and crumbles are two FORMS of feed not types of feed. You can have the same chick food that is available in both crumble and pellet form. Same food but different shape, size, etc. Your chicks should stay on the chick feed until they are about 18 weeks. Then they can be switched their layer feed.
Click to expand...

Wow, Mountain Peeps, your avatar is really awesome. I know this is random, but what breed is it? Is it part poodle?
 

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