How long to feed chick starter?

[NewChkinTown]

What is mealworm training? After about a couple weeks old, I squish some dried MW in my hand & offer to the chicks. Takes them a while but once they acquire it, they'll come running. I also put some in plastic sour cream container, shake then put your hand out with MW. They associate the sound to they treat & when adults will come running. Can also do it with feed.

Do you add the grit in to their feed or a separate dish? Yes grit is placed in a separate dish to be ate as needed.

Should Oyste shells be provided once they are of laying age in case they need more calcium, or should it be available all the time? Oyster Shells should be available for them when they start laying, they will eat as needed. Even if you feed layer feed, it's best to have some available.

LOL sorry for all the questions. Trying to get as much info as possible before we get our chicks Questions in preparation is alot better than after the fact, no apologies needed.

Can you feed Flock Raiser if you only have 4? Yes, Flock Raiser can be fed from day one, although I prefer feeding medicated starter (smallest bag) until done then switch, I don't feed layer. My "flock" is 4

Thanks so much!! I think I've decided to start with medicated starter feed, then move on from there. I now have to find somewhere that carries medicated feed. Our local TSC doesn't seem to. I'm in Canada and we don't seem to have as easy access to a lot of products as the US does.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I wouldn't stress about it. Medicated feed really isn't necessary as long as you keep the bedding bone dry and keep feeders at least half full. Medicated feed is usually addition of Amprolium which is only for starving the protozoa coccidia (the cause of coccidiosis) by resembling thiamin. Medicated feed has no other purpose.
Coccidia must have moisture to complete their life cycle. Keeping feed available limits the amount of time chicks spend picking at their litter for food which, if coccidia is in the brooder, they will pick up and begin a major coccidiosis explosion.

 

[The crazy chinken boy]

My chicks are 2 days from 6 weeks old and I feed them dumors starter feed some mealworms occasionally and some earth worms when I find them, of course with some grit my chicks seem to like it so far.i hope this helps

 

[NewChkinTown]

I wouldn't stress about it. Medicated feed really isn't necessary as long as you keep the bedding bone dry and keep feeders at least half full. Medicated feed is usually addition of Amprolium which is only for starving the protozoa coccidia (the cause of coccidiosis) by resembling thiamin. Medicated feed has no other purpose.
Coccidia must have moisture to complete their life cycle. Keeping feed available limits the amount of time chicks spend picking at their litter for food which, if coccidia is in the brooder, they will pick up and begin a major coccidiosis explosion.

I'm hoping to god it won't be in the brooder lol. It's never been used by other chicks or animals before. I have sterilized it and will do again before we get them Friday and their bedding goes in.
I am all too familiar with coccidia in dogs, I have no desire to set myself up for all that in chicks lol

 

[GC-Raptor]

I am all too familiar with coccidia in dogs, I have no desire to set myself up for all that in chicks

I feed Medicated Chick feed for 10 weeks, then when bag is empty I switch to Non-Medicated.
I hope you can find a Medicated Chick Starter. GC

 

[NewChkinTown]

I feed Medicated Chick feed for 10 weeks, then when bag is empty I switch to Non-Medicated.
I hope you can find a Medicated Chick Starter. GC

The feed store near me sells Masterfeeds medicated starter but I have no idea if thats a good or bad brand

 

[GC-Raptor]

The feed store near me sells Masterfeeds medicated starter but I have no idea if thats a good or bad brand

Yeah, I haven't heard of that brand, so I can't comment.
My local TSC carries 3 brands of Medicated Starter, but only the Purina brand in 50 lb bags. The other two brands are 10 and 5 lb bags, that doesn't last long with 6 Chicks, which is usually how many I buy at a time. GC

 

[NewChkinTown]

Yeah, I haven't heard of that brand, so I can't comment.
My local TSC carries 3 brands of Medicated Starter, but only the Purina brand in 50 lb bags. The other two brands are 10 and 5 lb bags, that doesn't last long with 6 Chicks, which is usually how many I buy at a time. GC

I would like to put them on the Purina one but can't find it in Canada

 

[Mtnboomer]

I do 8 wks of starter. Thats when they graduate from the brooder and move to the juveniles run. But if I have some left in the bag, i feed it to them until it runs out and then switch to pellets.

 

[RebeccaRN]

Can anyone recommend a feeder brand? There are so many and I want to get a really good one? Thanks in advance for any advice