New chicken mom, questions about feeding chicks!

[Kennas Mom10]

My grandmother gave my daughter 4 Domineckers on Thanksgiving Day. She had them on Medicated Starter/Grower food, so that is what we have kept them on. They are almost 4 weeks old. My question is should we kept them on the medicated starter food or put them on regular starter/grower food. What age should we switch them if we take them off the medicated? Also, when do we need to start giving them layer food?

 

[ChickensRDinos]

You can switch them to a regular non-medicated grower now. I usually switch at about a month. At 18 or 20 weeks I would add some oyster shell on the side and keep with the grower with oyster until all of your hens are laying. At that point if you want you can switch to a layer or stay with the grower + calcium on the side. Layer is just feed with calcium, nothing magical.

I personally never use a layer because I prefer a higher protein percentage and like the birds to regulate their own calcium intake. Read your feed labels and do what's best for you..