Questions about medicated feed for baby chicks.

[45lk9p459gm-w]

2. I looked for something called "Purina chick/starter crumbles for layers" and could not find it. I think you are talking about Purina Start & Grow which has an 18% protein level and calcium between 0.75% and 1.25%. Nutritionally that feed contains everything you need for a backyard flock or leghorns that will be a laying flock as long as that feed is all you feed them.

Thank you and everyone else for the great information …..

Sorry for the mistake on the feed name BTW. I have read and looked at so many different labels and threads on the subject that they all sorta ran together on me.

To get started then, I believe that I will free feed the following products ….

Start & Grow (non medicated) feed for the first 18 to 20 weeks. https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-start-grow

Then transition to a flock raiser feed supplemented with oyster shell on the side. https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-flock-raiser-pellets

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thank you and everyone else for the great information …..

Sorry for the mistake on the feed name BTW. I have read and looked at so many different labels and threads on the subject that they all sorta ran together on me.

To get started then, I believe that I will free feed the following products ….

Start & Grow (non medicated) feed for the first 18 to 20 weeks. https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-start-grow

Then transition to a flock raiser feed supplemented with oyster shell on the side. https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-flock-raiser-pellets

That is a good plan.
IF all your birds are pullets and the same age, when laying commences you can switch to layer feed but flock raiser will work and would be necessary if not all birds are layers. Layers are not female chickens. Layers are chickens that are actively producing eggs.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

That is a good plan.
IF all your birds are pullets and the same age, when laying commences you can switch to layer feed but flock raiser will work and would be necessary if not all birds are layers. Layers are not female chickens. Layers are chickens that are actively producing eggs.

In the beginning there were ten laying hens .....
In a few days, a week, couple of months from now. Who knows. They will probably turn into a chicken math, mixed bag, of birds all eating out of the same bag .....

 

[RememberTheWay]

Here's a little antidote on feed. My local mill has suppliers all over New England, Eastern New York, Pennsylvania then the supply skips all the way down to most of Florida. This from my local mill.

They have all the different bags to say what feed is for what bird at what age. If you look at the ingredients label on that plethora of options you find nearly 90% are exactly the same feed but in a different bag or form (crumble or pellet). They must use those bags saying - meat bird grower, non medicated chick starter, gamebird finisher and so forth to compete with the larger suppliers that push ignorance to sell the same feed for more money.

Look at a random company like Purina. They charge more for calcium added for layers yet reduce the main cost of protein in feed. This is more in their pocket. Then the idea of skipping that to use all flock feed came about from forums educating like this one. Purina then came out with a "all flock" feed. It say's it right on the label! How convenient for the ignorant consumer! Just pay 1.50-2.00 more for the same feed and it's on the bag you can feed it to the entire flock....

Pretty sure This forum is sponsored by Purina. Lol. Now extrapolate what you will from the fact that certain topics are not allowed to be discussed here anymore....