Should I bother with Grower feed?

[ozzie]

I live in the suburbs of a city and have 6 bantams who are currently 9-10weeks old. My big bag of Starter feed (no coccidiostat) is nearly finished. Should I bother with a Grower feed and then move to a Layer feed when they lay? Or should I just stick with the Starter feed and then switch to Layer? I noticed that the Grower crumbles that I can buy have a coccidiostat in it so I would need to take them off that before they start to lay (Goodness knows how you can tell 2 weeks before they start to lay). I don’t want to have leftover Grower that I can’t use when the flock starts to lay? Can I just keep them on Starter till they start laying and then switch to a Layer Feed?

 

[Aapomp831]

You don’t have to switch them to layer feed at all. Keep them on the chick starter and put out free choice oyster shell in a separate container around 18 to 21 weeks. They don’t already have to be laying, just close to it. I’m one of those people that doesn’t believe in layer feed; it forces chickens to consume more calcium than they may need. When the time comes and you can find non medicated grower, switch to that and just leave out the oyster shells. Our chickens eat Flock Raiser and have oyster shell on the side and our eggs are hard shelled and gorgeous.

 

[rosemarythyme]

In your case I would stick with the starter you're currently using. If you want to switch to layer, do so after most of the birds have started laying... and use up the feed you already have on hand, so it doesn't go to waste, or mix the feeds together to transition them if you prefer.

 

[Aunt Angus]

My adult birds are still on grower because they seem to do better on the higher protein (they get calcium free choice on the side) and because I have a rooster who doesn't need layer.

What I am trying to say is, you can skip the grower and go straight to layer once they near laying age. Or you can stay on starter. Or mix them. It's all good. Just don't give layer too early because they don't need the calcium (as others have already pointed out).

 

[ozzie]

Thank you everyone. I think I will just keep it simple and stick to Starter until they start laying and then see if I will just keep going with that and provide oyster shell grit on the side. Or I may start them on layer then. I will see how I go. It’s nice to have options.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you everyone. I think I will just keep it simple and stick to Starter until they start laying and then see if I will just keep going with that and provide oyster shell grit on the side. Or I may start them on layer then. I will see how I go. It’s nice to have options.

That is something I've learned over the last few years with chickens: there are options. I read so many things online when researching before getting chickens - they need this much heat for this many days, and this type of food, and this type of bedding, and they have to be this old before they can go outside, and they need exactly this much space...

But there are so many options and no one way to do things correctly. You make it work for you. As long as you and your chickens are happy and healthy.

 

[Fallenone05]

You can also feed them All Flock which is designed for anyone in the flock - ducks, chicks, roosters and hens! I've fed all flock, or all-way feed, to my adults and babies for months and they all thrived on it. Oyster shell was provided on the side for my adults and they did great.

 

[ozzie]

@Fallenone05 unfortunately I don’t think there’s All Flock in Australia. The closest thing I could find is this and it’s only for grown up poultry. Thanks for that suggestion though.

https://tinyurl.com/y2xb9k6k

@Aunt Angus ain’t that the truth about options? I find that I can do all the research and try things that people suggest but then my flock isn’t the same as others. I read how chickens like to eat watermelon and it’s great for them in summer (which we are having now in Australia), so I go and chop them up some lovely cool watermelon and they just stare at it. . The worms are having a feast though? They do love cucumbers. So that’s on the grocery list. It’s trial and error and what suits your situation and circumstances.