Specific Everyday feed for 7 week old chicks

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Good Day all my chicken peeps,
Please tell me Exactly what to feed my chicks daily once they are off the starter crumble?
I value the cleanest option. Please be specific, Offering brand name as well.
Also, at what age is appropriate to make the switch?
Thank you kindly BYC peeps, your expertise is invaluable.
from CT

 

[wyochick10]

That depends on a lot of things. Do you have other chickens of different ages? How old are your current chicks? I can only tell you what I do. I feed Purina All Flock to my entire flock all the time. But I tend to have mixed ages. They get it free choice with a bowl of oyster shell on the side for those who are ready laying. I like the high protein content of the all flock- 18%-20%. So your chicks can even stay on the grower without any problems. Until your first egg. Then start adding the oyster shell for added calcium then need while laying. Hope this helps!

 

[Brooks_]

I, too, use Purina Flock Raiser (20%, non-medicated). When that's not available I get a non-medicated 20% starter/grower and I leave oyster shell out free choice for the layers.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I use Nutrena All Flock Pellets, 20% Protein with Free choice Oyster Shells on the side.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have not raised a lot of chicks, but according to the advice given on these forums I kept them on chick starter until they reached Point Of Lay and then put them either onto layer pellets or all-flock.

I am not picky about feed brands or pellet vs crumble so simply asked the knowledgeable folks at the local, non-chain feed store for the highest-protein layer pellet or all-flock crumble (according to whether I have all adult hens or chicks in the flock), they had.

It's usually Kalmbach, but not always. I can trust this store to give me fresh, quality feed.

 

[Folly's place]

All good points already, and I'll add that fresh is best, by the mill date on each bag of feed. your choices may be different than mine (Flock Raiser) depending on what's available where you shop. Plan to use the feed within two months of it's mill date!
Whole grain feeds may look great, but unless you wet or ferment them, some birds will eat the yummy stuff, and leave the rest. Also the vitamin mineral mix will settle to the bottom, and be ignored. Buy a pelleted feed, or crumble.
Mary

 

[Grandmas Coop]

https://www.scratchandpeck.com/

Starter & Grower

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

That depends on a lot of things. Do you have other chickens of different ages? How old are your current chicks? I can only tell you what I do. I feed Purina All Flock to my entire flock all the time. But I tend to have mixed ages. They get it free choice with a bowl of oyster shell on the side for those who are ready laying. I like the high protein content of the all flock- 18%-20%. So your chicks can even stay on the grower without any problems. Until your first egg. Then start adding the oyster shell for added calcium then need while laying. Hope this helps!

Hello and thank you so much for your time. I have 6 pullets, 6 weeks old. They are on the 20% protein starter feed now. Looking at the Scratch and Peck brand; but, there are so many to choose from! I can always call them and I’m sure they can guide me to what I need. I got chickens hoping to save money on eggs! After the 2500 coop we just built, and the cost of good quality feed....... I’m not sure I’ll be saving money on eggs anytime soon. We do pay over $6 a dozen now in CT tho.

 

[AntiqueB]

I feed Scratch and Peck grower whole grains, with oyster shell (and their own crushed egg shells) on the side. They like it, but I can't see feeding a large flock with it, as it does need to be moistened.

When we got our very first egg, we laughed at what we called the world's most expensive egg! I've found that the savings on eggs (there aren't any) are secondary to knowing where my eggs come from, having fun with my girls, and the joy and satisfaction of harvesting my own eggs.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I feed all ages a Starter-Grower feed 18%.
I feed Medicated Start & Grow till 10 weeks old, then when bag is empty I switch to Non-Medicated Starter-Grower feed.
I actually have two bags open at this point in time as I have 3 1/2 weeks old chicks and hens over a year old.

I prefer the higher Protein 18% over most layers feed 16%.
I offer Oyster Shells separately at 15 weeks old.

When I used to feed Layers feed I offered it when at least one of each breed/type started to lay.
(For me that was 16 1/2 to 20 weeks old). GC