What should I feed my 8 week old chickens?

[MooseFriends]

You could always throw out the fact that growing, developing chickens need a feed that's about 18% protein. Cracked corn is only about 8%. And chickens need a whopping 13 different amino acids to maintain optimal health. Then there are all the trace minerals and vitamins that are essential, but too much or too little can cause serious problems.
Yes, they can survive on cracked corn, and free ranging; but what's going to happen in winter, when there is nothing to forage? They may survive, but they will not thrive. And they certainly won't be very productive.
If you want, you can do a google search for images of nutritional deficiencies in chickens. But I warn you, some of the results are pretty graphic. The results of imbalanced feeding can be horrific.
The feed companies have invested a lot of time, money, and research on perfecting a chicken's diet for optimum production, longevity, and health. I, personally, wouldn't risk my flock's health and well being to save a few bucks on feed.

I love the Internet but there is some charm to libraries and with three young children and one just starting home school kindergarten we are spending more and more time at the library...

To the OP, if you dad is the type that trust no one that has real life experience, studied nutrition and/or has done scientific based studies then I don't know where to send you...

The chicken industry has spent millions upon millions determining what chickens need nutritionally to grow and produce optimally... They spent millions on studies to determine what chickens needed, and in turn spend their money on nutritionally balanced feeds formulated from those studies to feed their chickens... Trust me if they could just feed cheap cracked corn and get good results while increasing their profits they would, but they don't and they don't for a reason, corn alone won't cut it...

Well, how about this one?  Lots of good information here from people who really know what they're talking about, and none of them are out to sell you something and slant their posts that direction.  Try looking up there in the Learning Center - tons of good stuff there too.  But we can all tell ya - feeding a chicken nothing but cracked corn is like giving a 2 year old nothing but popsicles...nothing in it that helps growth and development.

No. Cracked corn is not a complete, balanced feed. It is too low in protein for a growing, developing chicken and is lacking in many essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Feed a nutritionally complete feed such as starter, grower, flock raiser, or all flock. Do not feed layer unless all the birds in your flock are actively laying. 
If you choose to feed nothing but corn, your birds will be slow to grow and mature, and may suffer bone and other growth deformities.

Cracked corn is not a balanced diet, feed them chick starter, all flock or meat bird...

Thank you so much everyone! I think he now understands that chickens need more than just cracker corn and scratch! All of of the information you gave me just might have convinced him fully! Once again, thanks everyone!