How long on chick starter?

[yoker]

first 6 weeks starter,
Then grower untill 20 weeks,
and layer after that.
That is what I do.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I'm feeding Nutrina starter/grower to my 13 wk olds and understand that I feed that until they start to lay then switch to layer feed.

I wouldn't sub in anything to make the balanced feed last longer. It would be like feeding white bread, rice or other high carb food to a kid. Lots of carbs and calaries without much nutrition.

I do spread a little scratch, oatmeal, or baby grass as a snack but not to sub anything. I want my ten chicks to grow up to be as healthy and strong as possible for lifelong egg laying.

 

[cmom]

I use medicated Starter crumbles up to 8 weeks.
Grower Crumbles or pellets from 8 weeks until you get your first egg.
Layer from first egg on.

If I use medicated Starter/Grower I feed it to the birds until I get my first egg then I switch over to Layer. If I have any Starter/Grower or Grower left over when I get my first egg, I mix in the leftover feed with the Layer feed. I have never had any problems. The medication in medicated Starter/Grower crumbles is sulfa based and only helps the chicks in developing their immunity to cocci. There is only a problem eating the eggs layed by the birds that have had the medicated feed when they start to lay if you have any alergies to Sulfa.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

My husband read somewhere that they should switch from starter to grower at about 8-10 weeks. We switched ours at about 5 weeks, before he read that. They have done just fine, so it doesn't look like we did them any harm by switching a bit early.

 

[roche477]

I'm using starter/grower until 16 weeks and then layer.

 

[GardenGirl]

Thank you for all the advice!!! I wound up getting the grower/finisher because the are now 6 1/2 weeks and I couldn't find a small enough bag and didn't see that they could be on the starter longer before I left this morning.

The guy at the feed store said it should be fine and to switch them to the layer when they lay eggs, which I new already.

Thanks again!!! Don't know what I'd do without y'all!

 

[Maryallison]

I feed my chicks the start and grow up until they start to lay. Then switch to laying pellets.

 

[JewellFarm]

I feed mind start and grow all the way to 16 weeks.

 

[txchickie]

Starter till 16 weeks

Layer from 16 weeks on



I like to keep it simple

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

The Purina Sunfresh recommends using starter til 18 weeks then switching to layer.