Noob Chicken Feed Question

[minou33]

We currently have our baby chicks on chick starter at 23% protein. We were planning to change over to layer feed at 16% protein at 20 weeks. Does this sound about right or should we switch over sooner than that? Do we need to combine feed for a while or can we switch them over to the new feed "cold turkey"?

The feed we will be giving them is Scratch and Peck organic layer feed. Do people typically sprout the feed daily to give to their chickens or can you give them the feed directly without sprouting? Have you noticed any real difference with sprouting versus not sprouting?

TY!!!

 

[hysop]

I’m no expert (I’ve only been a chicken owner for two years going on 3) but from 0 to 8 weeks I feed them chick starter. 9 to 16 I feed them grower feed. And 16+ weeks I feed them layer feed. I do cold turkey switch. But if someone has different advice I’d love to hear it.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

A lot of people switch over to layer at 16 weeks to give the hens a little boost in calcium before they start laying. I would just do it whenever you find your first egg. Sprouting is not necessary, they will eat it direct too.

Personally I feed an all flock or starter/grower mix their whole lives (this would be around 20% protein). I give oyster shell on the side for calcium. The reason I do this is because I have a large age span in my flock and not all the birds are laying (roosters for instance). Only laying hens need layer feed with extra calcium.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you're going with Scratch & Peck, look into fermenting it, or at least serving it wet, as the protein and vitamins in the feed are all in the powdery fines.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

To the question about gradual switch vs. cold turkey, it can't hurt to spread it out over maybe a week to avoid any tummy trouble for your flock. May not be 100% needed, but small effort to avoid any issues.

 

[Jan Croot]

We currently have our baby chicks on chick starter at 23% protein. We were planning to change over to layer feed at 16% protein at 20 weeks. Does this sound about right or should we switch over sooner than that? Do we need to combine feed for a while or can we switch them over to the new feed "cold turkey"?

The feed we will be giving them is Scratch and Peck organic layer feed. Do people typically sprout the feed daily to give to their chickens or can you give them the feed directly without sprouting? Have you noticed any real difference with sprouting versus not sprouting?

TY!!!

I supplement with sprouted grains in winter, when my "free ranging" zone is is nothing but snow or wind blown dirt. I buy oat and barley from local farmers, and 50 lbs of whole wheat, starting up a new batch every day, and feeding when the green sprouts are an inch high, at about seven days. Even at two or three days, a spouted grain is easier to digest, so your birds will get more nutrients from the same pound of food.

I'd mix it up; some sprouted, some not. You never know when you will run out of sprouts, and the birds need to know to be flexible.

 

[Chris2018]

We currently have our baby chicks on chick starter at 23% protein. We were planning to change over to layer feed at 16% protein at 20 weeks. Does this sound about right or should we switch over sooner than that? Do we need to combine feed for a while or can we switch them over to the new feed "cold turkey"?

The feed we will be giving them is Scratch and Peck organic layer feed. Do people typically sprout the feed daily to give to their chickens or can you give them the feed directly without sprouting? Have you noticed any real difference with sprouting versus not sprouting?

TY!!!

I prefer a feed closer to 20% protein but 16% should be fine as long as you do not offer treats or keep them to a minimal as most treats including sprouted grains will deplete the over all protein (and some other nutrients) of there main feed.

Example --
Barley (as a grain) has a crude protein percentage of 12.7% and when sprouted to about 7 days has a protein percentage of 15.5% and I believe the protein levels of sprouted grains begin to go down after that.

 

[Birdsonghill]

Too many snacks(or table scraps) of a lower protein or a higher protein can be bad for your flock. Some snacks are high digestible protein and energy (sugars/fats/carbohydrates) and over used, may lead to fatty liver syndrome and random, sudden death of healthy looking birds. Careful balance to meet your conditions are needed. Most people are far better off using a balanced formula ration, rather than making their own feed rations. When having a mixed age and gender flock(not mixed egg or meat animals) using a compromise feed between the layers diet and roosters needs(16 to 18% is likely best, with oyster shell/calcium available or included. If a rooster or specific bird needs a protein/energy boost treat them only. Make a "chick haven" for feeding chicks 23% starter diet. Caution and moderation is best for treats/snacks of a well cared for flock. I was very cash deprived in my early chicken days and kept chickens moderately successful on less than ideal, mostly home grown grains , vegetables and scraps. I sprouted and fermented 40 years ago and still do. It is possible, just not advised for best practice, in practical chicken care, to feed these things, as a sole diet or as snacks, without careful considerations to the total flocks health and productivity. Beginners, please use a balanced commercial diet that you researched for quality assurance, either organic or not, that is appropriate for your flocks purpose and age. Avoid feeds that are not properly formulated to incorporate all the mix ingredients in each beakful! The vitamins, minerals and fine ingredients need to be blended and treated to hold them together in a crumble or pellet form for best distribution and feeding. Wetting or fermenting can do this or other feed production methods may be used to maintain a dry ready to feed, fully incorporated formula. Good luck and Happy chickens!