Out of starter feed

[mrsaubrey]

We got baby chicks from Tractor Supply Co on March 19th. We have been mixing that vitamin stuff in with their eater and feeding them chick starter. Now, we are out of chick starter and Tractor Supply Co is out of chick starter until at least Wednesday. I also have more chicks being delivered anytime next week. I bought some regular chicken feed, which isn't recommended for chicks, and dried meal worms. I am going to mash up the meal worms to feed them. Thoughts?

Also, husband is building a coop and it's almost done. The internet says they can go out, when night temps are 50 or higher and they are 6 weeks old. Is that accurate and do they still need a heat lamp at night at least, once they move out? Should I wean them off the heat lamp before I put them out?

 

[BlessedmamaAELE]

As far as the food goes. You can use an all
Flock food. With 20% (or more) protein and they will be just fine. (I like Purina flock raiser @ Tsc ). Also, you don’t need vitamins everyday. They also need just plain water. Chicks are often fully feathered at 6 weeks. And yes, with cooperative weather can withstand 50s without heat source. You really should have been weaning them off the heat lamp already. And at about 70degrees max. You can wean them. Sometimes for your peace of mind. It’s better to turn the heat lamp off at night for several nights inside before putting them outside. Mainly it will help as far as their stress in learning to not have “a light on” as well
As the heat. Hope this helps.

 

[BlueBaby]

I agree that they can do ok on the All Flock feed. If at first they don't want to eat it, add enough water to it to moisten it. They will pig out on it then.

 

[rosemarythyme]

All flock (or even grower at this point) is a better choice than layer feed, if that's what you've been using. Skip the mealworms, some boiled eggs mashed or chopped up would be a much better choice for chicks.

Yes you should wean them off heat before they go out, otherwise yes 6 weeks-ish is a pretty good time for them to go out.

 

[mrsaubrey]

Thank you. I am adding crushed meal worms to the adult feed for more protein. They prefer the feed to the meal worms.
We started bringing then out in a dog kennel during warm parts if the day to get used to being outside. Supervised excursions since they are small enough to get out. They enjoy it. They are almost 4 weeks old. To wean them off the light, should I raise it up higher?

 

[rosemarythyme]

To wean them off the light, should I raise it up higher?

If you have a dimmer, you can try plugging it into that and seeing if you can dim the bulb. Otherwise yes, raise it up higher to reduce the intensity of the heat.