What age to start changing feed?

[shesham]

When do you switch from started feed? What is the best way to make the switch?

TIA
shesham

 

[RendonRoo]

I use a starter/grower feed. When they start laying they should be switched to layer feed. This should be at about 6 months. Good Luck and welcome to BYC

 

[JenMT]

It usually says on the bag that you feed when to go to the next stage of feed. I also use starter/grower all-in-one so I plan on using that until my girls beging to lay. I don't know how to switch...I haven't yet, but most people here say to mix the last of your old feed with the new stuff to gradually work them into the new stuff. Good luck to you!

 

[Brickman House]

I use a separate starter feed and grower feed, because I also raise ducks which need to be switched to grower sooner than the chicks.

I switch my chicks from starter to grower around 10 weeks or so, whenever their bag of starter runs out. If it's a little sooner or later, no big deal.

 

[shesham]

Correct me if I'm wrong, since I have one group of chicks that is 7 weeks old I will switch to a grower feed, then wait till their laying and switch them to layer feed. I have read somewhere about mixing their feed with oatmeal so they don't grow too fast, is this true?

TIA

 

[Brickman House]

Shesham,

You are correct. If you're using a separate starter and grower, like I do, you switch to grower, then wait until they're about to start laying (or have just started laying) and switch to layer pellets.

Cutting the feed with oatmeal is usually done to lower the protein % of the feed, but if you're using a commercially prepared formulation, and moving through the starter/grower/layer at appropriate stages, you shouldn't need to mix anything with the feed.

 

[shesham]

Good to know. Thanks for all the helpful info.

shesham