How old until Baby chicks don’t need ‘chick starter’?

[Nekopan]

How old are your chicks and how many do you have?

I have two 6 day old chicks.

 

[aart]

I have two 6 day old chicks.

Oh so 20# of feed is gonna last a good while.
If you give the scratch grains, even if ground finer,
they are gonna need chick sized digestive (granite) grit.

 

[Nekopan]

Oh so 20# of feed is gonna last a good while.
If you give the scratch grains, even if ground finer,
they are gonna need chick sized digestive (granite) grit.

I have finch/cockatiel grit. Is this appropriate for young chicks?

 

[paneubert]

I have finch/cockatiel grit. Is this appropriate for young chicks?

May be bordering on too small for them. As they grow, the size of the grit goes up as well. Otherwise they just poop it right out.

 

[aart]

I have finch/cockatiel grit. Is this appropriate for young chicks?

Might be ok for such young ones..BUT..what are the ingredients?
If it's not on the container, post a pic of the brand/model.

http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

I bought about a 2 gallon bag of granite grit from the local mill, they put it in their chicken scratch. Ran it thru a colander with 1/16" holes. Bagged the smaller stuff for the chicks and sprinkle some over a chunk of sod in the brooder during the second week.

 

[Nekopan]

Might be ok for such young ones..BUT..what are the ingredients?
If it's not on the container, post a pic of the brand/model.

http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

I bought about a 2 gallon bag of granite grit from the local mill, they put it in their chicken scratch. Ran it thru a colander with 1/16" holes. Bagged the smaller stuff for the chicks and sprinkle some over a chunk of sod in the brooder during the second week.

It contains oyster shell so I chucked it. Going to look at a different store today.

While we’re on the topic, is there a difference between 18% all flock feed and 18% grower? What’s the ideal nutrient break down for an all flock chick feed?

 

[rosemarythyme]

While we’re on the topic, is there a difference between 18% all flock feed and 18% grower? What’s the ideal nutrient break down for an all flock chick feed?

Each brand of feed may have slightly different amounts of certain nutrients but as long as the numbers are close the feeds are completely interchangeable.

 

[bruceha2000]

Could I use scratch grains? I have lots of chicken scratch.

NO! First of all scratch grains shouldn't be more than 10% of an adult bird's diet let alone part of a week old chick's diet ESPECIALLY if they don't have grit.

My first chicks went through 2 five pound bags of starter then were on grower until about 20 weeks, then layer. They got a container of oyster shell at the same time. All 3 batches since (all hatchery birds) started on starter and well before they finished the bag were eating the layer in the hanging feeder before they were 4 weeks (raised in the barn, the first of them by a hen) even though they still had starter in the feeder in their brooder area (opening too small for the adults).

The brand I use doesn't sell an "all flock". I've never had a problem with my juvenile birds eating layer at a young age. Since they were out in the barn, dirt floor, and finding their way outside, they didn't have store bought grit, they found what they needed on their own. Somehow even young chicks seem to know what they need.

 

[aart]

NO! First of all scratch grains shouldn't be more than 10% of an adult bird's diet let alone part of a week old chick's diet ESPECIALLY if they don't have grit.

Maybe you missed the rest of the conversation...
....we were talking about diluting some 26%, and also are discussing grit

 

[Nekopan]

They are getting only the 26% chick starter until I can find an appropriate grit or my other feed comes in.

Given I can’t find any grit in store, I might just go outside and collect some tiny rocks...