What age do you switch your feed and to what??

[bwebster]

Hello! I have 4 BRs and a mystery pullet that was supposed to be a BR but is bigger and getting whiter/lighter everyday. They are almost 8 weeks now. I have been feeding the DuMor 24% chick starter since the beginning. I recently learned that I could have/should have been using 20% since they are for eggs and not meat.

I have seen that at about 10 weeks they should be switched to finisher feed that is around 15%, and then regular layer feed at 18. When do you all switch and to what? Should I step them down to 20% before dropping to 15%?

Thanks everyone!! I only have the 5 birds and I'm in NW Connecticut.

 

[Folly's place]

You could change to an all-flock feed and then offer oyster shell in a separate feeder for your pullets when they start laying eggs. That's simplest, and can be fed forever to the entire flock with no changes. I feed Purina Flock Raiser, 20% protein, to my birds, from hatching to old age.
Pick something that's fresh by mill date where you shop, and check the mill date on each bag of feed. It should be within one month, and fed within another month, for freshness and maximum vitamins.
How about pictures of your chicks? You may have a cockerel in your group?!
Mary

 

[bwebster]

How about pictures of your chicks? You may have a cockerel in your group?!
Mary

Thank you! I thought maybe a rooster but, based on sex signs of a BR I'm not sure. Pics of the suspect attached. Not the best photos. Not sure of just a lighter BR, cross, something else entirely.

 

[Folly's place]

It' looks like a pullet, so far, and NOT a BR! Very pretty!
What other breeds were sold where these came from? Hatchery chicks at a feed store, or from a private breeder? Find out what was available, and sort that way.
Post in the 'what breed or sex?' thread too.
Mary

 

[bwebster]

Yea she is very pretty, thank you. Couldn't dream of a more laid back bird.

I ordered 10 RIR/BRs from Tractor Supply online, 5 and 5. Was going to get from local Agway but with everything going on (especially a few weeks ago in CT) my wife and I weren't sure if shipments would be messed up so we did online to be sure we'd get them. Wish I hadn't because they were in the mail an extra day, one DOA and lost 4 the next day. And there were zero RIRs!

I did post in that area, by the way to no real answer. Someone suggested Silver Penciled PR or some sort of Easter Egger. I have no clue haha!

 

[Folly's place]

TSC can tell you what hatchery they came from, and then look at what they offer.
Mary

 

[Sand creek Ameraucanas]

I have pullets now 8 weeks or so. They had only starter for 2 weeks and then they got some shell and scratch grain mixed in. Now they get part scratch grains part all flock. And of course oyster shell and grit

 

[Zan]

I feed chick starter till they are big enough to go in the coop with everyone else. When that is depends on if they are hen raised or brooder raised. Hen raised go in around 3-4 weeks. Brooder is more like 7 or 8. A lot depends on the weather and size of chicks. Once they are in the flock, they get free choice layer pellets, cracked corn in the morning and the freedom to eat whatever they can find outside. They have a large grassy run and free range every afternoon.

 

[Owain1]

I fed my chicks starter 20% protein until they laid, then layer 16% protein. I made sure it had plenty of calcium too. I also have oyster shells available and I give them some commercial scratch, vegetable table scraps & every now and then some Miel Worms or fish.