What do I feed them now

[mammachick]

I have 6 almost 8wk old chicks (mostly hens) and am just about out of the Purina Medicated Chick Start. Should I buy another bag or should they move onto a different type of feed?

Thanks!

 

[Roy]

I would keep them on chick starter for awhile longer

 

[sjh]

8 weeks is the recomended age to switch to grower.

 

[Wynette]

They should stay on starter until they begin to lay, OR - you can switch them to something like Flock Raiser at 12 weeks.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

As you can tell from the answers so far there are different views

It really depends on your preferences. I have a mixed age flock so I feed starter till 8 weeks or so then I feed them all a flock raiser ( kent multi flock) For the layers I keep a small pail of oyster shell they can eat if they want.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I usually do a mixture of starter and whatever you next step feed you choose for about 2 to 4 weeks.

I stop starter after 12 weeks, the manufacturer recommends it.

 

[Wynette]

Purina recommends starter until 18 weeks:

http://poultry.purinamills.com/OURPRODUCTS/FeedingChart/default.aspx

 

[digitS']

Not only our preferences, a decision may depend on what is available to us.

Often, starter/grower is what is available at the feed store. Perhaps, there are separate products: starter and grower. You may even have starter, grower, and finisher (or developer).

Flock Raiser is what I fed after the pullets reached 8 weeks. Purina says this, "Purina Mills Flock Raiser is a 20% protein product made from the same high-quality ingredients as Start & Grow."

I should say that my pullets always start on the feed that they were on when I purchased them. Since, the local feed mill has its own starter, I stay with that until they are 8 weeks plus.

Steve

 

[chickenmeadow]

Medicated is the main word that I focused on in your question. So, if there is no real reason to feed the medicated feed, then why not just the regular starter feed. Chicks are often started on the medicated when coming from hatcheries, due to shipping stress, etc. I'm not fond of medicating for no reason or continuing it when not needed, you can probably tell. So, when they're off of the medicated, help get their own good bacteria started in the gut by offering a little natural yogurt mixed in a small amount of feed on the side. I feed my flock homemade kefir (like yogurt) several times a week for general health maintenance. Best wishes!

 

[sjh]

Quote:
I think purina is being a little biased. Of course they do not recomend grower. They due not make a grower. Only start n grow. They would have to recomend a competers product if they did.