How long do Chicks need to be on Chick Starter?

[catchthewind]

What do you do with mixed ages? My food bag says to leave them on the starter until they are 16-20 weeks old (though it's 25% protein, so I may rethink that), but my chicks range in age from day olds to ten weeks old. Can you keep them all on the chick started and just supplement oyster shell until they're all old enough for layer? Will the younger chicks avoid the oyster shell?

 

[cheri222]

Not the best advice, but till my 50lb bag of starter is empty. Should be around 8 weeks by the looks of it.

 

[patman75]

Quote:
X2

 

[FMAFarms]

Well said, Ridgerunner!!!

Purina is one of the brands that combines Starter with Grower. You can feed chicks Purina Start and Grow until they are 16 weeks, at which point you move them to Purina Layena crumbles or pellets. If you're a Purina type of person, that is.

Never never never never feed your chickens just scratch. Scratch is like candy to chickens. Toss a handful out into the run if you want them out of the coop. Toss a handful near you if you want to call them in. But never really on scratch as their sole food. It simply does not have the nutrients they need.

 

[gryeyes]

My flock has multiple ages of chickens in it, so I never give them layer feed. They transition from Grower/Starter to All Flock or Grower/Finisher feed. I keep crushed oyster shell out 24/7, free choice, for the layers to take as their bodies urge them.

 

[dsqard]

Quote:
X2 except I also mix in game bird pellets for extra protien.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm pretty much with Linda, although I do go back to Layer when they are all laying age. When I have a mixed-aged flock, I feed Starter/Grower or Grower/Developer, whatever they are not out of this time, and keep oyster shell on the side for the laying hens. When I switch back to Layer, the consumption of oyster shell goes way down, but I leave it out anyway.

Is that 25% for game birds maybe and not for chickens? Again, that should be on the bag. A lot of higher percentage feeds like that do not mention it is for chickens.

 

[catchthewind]

Thanks Ridgerunner and Linda. That makes a lot of sense. The 25% is definitely for chicks. It says it's specifically for heritage-breed chickens and is to be fed until they start laying eggs. I bought it because I like the ingredients in it, it is non-GMO, it's a great price, and it's milled locally and in very small batches, so it's very fresh. (Though it means we have to leave lots of time to get more when it goes low, as they are often out for a week or two at a time, which is a bit annoying.) I do worry about such high protein. I've seen mixed opinions on feeding such a high protein food to chicks.

 

[TouchO'Lass]

Ah. So the stuff I bought by Nutrena is called Chick Starter Grower. ?. But it's 18% protein, so I guess it's borderline for my new peeps, and Nutrena is trying to cater to two stages at once. So, going tomorrow to see what the Purina starter has for prot. and save this stuff for later...
Good info here, thanks! I'm in a largely agricultural community in northern Washington, and there are as many different local opinions as there are breeds of chicks!

 

[AlienChick]

20% Feed is for starting chicks

24% Feed is for starting turkey and gamebird chicks.