- Thread starter
- #11
Spaeth-chicks
Songster
This is what I have. It says from day 1 on...I thought it would be ok, since I've been feeding my chickens the layer version of this food for the past two years, but I can get the crumbles later on today. I don't mind.I haven't heard the term "chick starter scratch".... that seems to be two different terms combined? "Chick starter" is processed feed, milled into a fine consistency and then shaped into crumble particles. "Scratch" is actual grains, either whole or cracked. In processed chick starter crumbles, you wouldn't be able to see pieces of corn the size of the ones visible on your plate... It's hard to tell in the picture, but I think I see other identifiable grains as well? Does the bag say what age chicks it's intended for? "Chick" is a stretchy term, since they are technically chicks for quite a while, but they grow fast. A chick that's several weeks old can do fine with that, if it has grit, but a chick that has just hatched won't do as well. That's why it's best to give them the general chick starter crumble, which they can eat from day 1. Another downside of the types of feed like that one where you can identify the different pieces, is that the chickens will pick out their favorites and leave out other parts, thus getting incomplete nutrition. But the feed that's been milled and looks uniform, they eat everything, thus getting a balanced meal. Scratch (of any type, where you can identify the grains) is fine as a treat, but not as their main meal.