What is the proper thing to feed my 8 week old pullets and 1 roo?

[catholder]

I think I have 14 hens out of the 15!! YEAH!! So far only one has a red comb...we'll see...
But I was getting a little confused talking to people in my area about what to feed the youngins. Currently they are getting scratch which is always in their feeder and I also give them fruit/veggie scraps as well as oatmeal and other grains made up for them - and lots of grubs. When do I start the laying crumbles or pellets? Am I ok for now what I'm doing? The chicks look fat and healthy! And what is a healthy proportion for them? Is there anything we should stay away from when it comes to the kitchen scraps? (no meat, no dairy, no onions, garlic...)

Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

First, withdraw the scratch entirely. They won't grow well on that. They need actual starter/grower or plain grower for chicks till the girls begin to lay. I never give youngsters scratch, ever, not till they are over 10 weeks and only as a training tool. ALL they need is starter. I've seen chicks fed only scratch and they were scrawny and sickly looking so even if they look okay now, they won't do well or get proper nutrition.

 

[Mahlzeit]

I usually start to switch over from chick starter to chick grower at around 8 weeks. I leave them on the grower to about 18 weeks and then I gradually change them to the layer pellets. Hope this helps.

 

[speckledhen]

I wish I could get grower in my area, but all the feedstores sell is starter/grower combo. You can feed that till they begin to lay then feed layer crumble/pellets.

 

[Biddylover]

I don't know if you're still wanting input by the local feed store told me to keep my diddles/chicks on the starter feed until 18-20 wks of age and it also says that on the packaging.... I am a nosey person and checked. I hope that helps, according to what he explained to me the starter feed has everything they need vitamins and nutrition wise. The only extra thing I have been giving them is a little bit of oyster shells once a week because they pecked one off my Polish Bantams to death.... and he suggested the oyster shells something about a calcium deficiency? And that makes them peck at each other? I hope I'm making sense.

 

[lux_interior]

My feed store only sells the starter/grower combo too.... they don't need layer till they start to lay, hence the name. I agree that scratch is a bad choice to keep their feed dish filled with at all times, however, I give a handful to my girls (6 weeks) every night when they go up in their coop to try to encourage them to learn how to go there for bed. Scratch is ok as a treat only.

 

[catholder]

Ok - Thanks everyone for your info...
So, scratch the scratch and use only a treats
Keep feeding the starter and/or grower till at least 18 weeks
Switch to laying pellets when they start to lay
Ok - when will they start to lay?
We try to give them some kind of fruit/veggie/ or grain from our kitchen everyday.
What about black sunflower seeds?
Anything else...oh I put Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother in their water containers...
Thanks again!