starter feed question

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Perfect excuse for a couple more chicks! You don't want that 50# bag to get stale!

 

[chickened]

I think the sales person knew you were new to chickens Don't worry they will still eat it just watch for mold in the feed cause it will take 2 chicks about 3 months to eat it.
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[poultry guy]

I would just follow the instructions on the bag or website.

 

[gritsar]

When all that was available around here was starter/grower and layer feed I kept my chicks on starter/grower until they were 18 weeks old and then switched them over to layer. Started offering oyster shell as soon as I got my first egg.

Now we have a new feed store that offers a "flockraiser" type feed, called Allway Kernels. It's a starter/grower/layer. I love it. I switched all my birds over to it, including my coop of all adult birds. In my other coop it works out great because there are different ages in that coop, young chicks to adult birds. There's oyster shell in that coop too, but the chicks and the rooster don't bother with it.

As far as chicken math goes, you definitely need another chick. Chickens are flock animals. You only have two and - goodness forbid - something happens to one, you'll end up with a very lonely chicken. I always recommend no less than three.

 

[phasian]

Here's what I do-

week 1 medicated Alber's chick crumbles (w/hatchery birds only- not my own farm hatches). I don't feed this longer because amprolium, the anticoccidiostat in this food reduces nutrient uptake to kill off the coccidia.

weeks 2-6 organic Payback chick crumbles mixed with an OG local chick mash, Q-Bar. I also supplement with finely minced greens like chick weed and add a grassy divot to the brooder to give the chicks something to climb, nibble on, and scratch around in.

weeks 6-8 slowly introduce a small portion of OG developer, both Payback pellets & Q-Bar mash with the same supplementation mentioned above.

If they are living in a pen with just laying hens I feed layer food when the first egg is laid. Otherwise, I do what one other person here mentioned which is to continue with Developer and supplement calcium. I am sure this is also better for the roosters.