What age to start chicks on feed??

[crazychickenlady5]

What age should you start feeding chicks the feed for adult birds? Should you slowly go from chick feed to regular feed like you would when changing a goats grain to another brand? Our chicks are getting older and I'm wondering when they need adult feed...

 

[staceyj]

You won’t change your feed from chicken starter to layer feed until this batch of chicks begin laying eggs.

 

[Mosey2003]

Feed chick starter, starter/grower, or grower until the entire batch is laying. It depends on what is available in your area, my stores only sell starter/grower. If yours sell both separate starter and grower feed, you would switch to grower after whatever age the label indicated. By about 16 weeks, set out a dish of oyster shell. The ones that will be laying will eat it as they choose. It's best not to feed high-calcium feed (layer) to chickens that are not actually laying or are male, as it's hard on the kidneys. Personally, I never feed layer at all.

 

[Molpet]

I also feed starter and then grower.. and oyster shells on the side..

 

[crazychickenlady5]

Thanks everyone! So when they start laying I'll put them on starter feed or when the bag says to give it and oyster shells in a free choice dish when they are 16 weeks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks everyone! So when they start laying I'll put them on starter feed or when the bag says to give it and oyster shells in a free choice dish when they are 16 weeks.

No. When they start laying, you put them on LAYER feed (if you want).

They should be on starter right now, or grower, depending on chick age and your preference.

16 weeks isn't a magic number, I've never had a chicken lay at 16 weeks. You can switch to layer if you want at that time, but I personally would wait until at least some of them are laying.

 

[crazychickenlady5]

Lol thats what I meant with the layer feed they are on starter feed right now

 

[rosemarythyme]

Just wanted to make sure!

 

[Kiki]

Read the feed bag of the preferred brand name you choose to use.