How long to feed chick starter food?

[BakkDad]

Just wanted to confirm. I was told by the person that sold me my chicks that I should feed them the chick starter food until they start laying. Does this represent a majority opinion? The chicks are 4 weeks old now and still on the starter. Of course I mix in treats like lettuce, cucumber, etc.. which they go crazy over. Appreciate your input..

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

I always wait until most of my young flock is laying before I switch. So if only one bird is laying out of say 20 birds i’ll wait until at least 4-6 more start laying.

 

[HappyClucker7]

You should wait until all the chicks have started laying. Until then, just give some calcium chips to the ones who are laying.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I keep mine on chick starter till 12 or so weeks, then I switch over to Flock Raiser for the rest of their lives (oyster shell on the side once they start laying of course). If you are going to use layer feed though, I would wait until they are all laying and switch to a 18% Layer feed. People have had feather picking/eating and egg eating problems when they use 16% protein feed, so I would avoid it.

 

[BakkDad]

I keep mine on chick starter till 12 or so weeks, then I switch over to Flock Raiser for the rest of their lives (oyster shell on the side once they start laying of course). If you are going to use layer feed though, I would wait until they are all laying and switch to a 18% Layer feed. People have had feather picking/eating and egg eating problems when they use 16% protein feed, so I would avoid it.

Is layer feed necessary or used only to promote laying?

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Is layer feed necessary or used only to promote laying?

No it’s not necessary at all. You can feed chick starter or an all flock for there entire lives but you’ll have to add oyster shells available at all time. I personally use layer feed because I own a lot of hens and they refuse to eat oyster shells.

 

[BakkDad]

No it’s not necessary at all. You can feed chick starter or an all flock for there entire lives but you’ll have to add oyster shells available at all time. I personally use layer feed because I own a lot of hens and they refuse to eat oyster shells.

Thanks for the helpful feedback. Just came from the feed store and the label "starter" apparently is a general term for a few different types of feed. One had seeds and other ingredients and the other looked like "crumbles" but both had "starter" in the labeling.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Starter is just higher protein, low calcium feed appropriate for chicks. If you wish you can feed it to them until they're ready to lay or even beyond that.

Layer does not promote laying, it simply has higher calcium which can help hens with shell formation. However calcium can be supplemented on the side, so it's not ever "necessary" to feed layer, but you may do so if you wish, once the birds start laying.

There's also grower (meant as an intermediate food between starter and layer, not all brands make grower), all flock/flock raiser (often nutritionally similar to grower, an all purpose food for all ages).

 

[donddon]

Because I have roosters, all my birds are on starter feed. I don't want to hurt the roosters with too much calcium. I keep a shallow flower pot, with a large round stone in it(so the little devils can't tip it), filled with oyster shell. Although reluctant for the first few days, each evening now, my hens take oyster shell before bedtime. The roosters rarely, if ever, eat the oyster shell. Grit, on the other hand, is enjoyed by all. I use the same flower pot setup, with a stone weight, for grit.