When can chicks eat layer feed?

[Me + Peeps]

I have two chicks that in a week or two should be big enough to move into the coop with the big girls and i was wondering if 8 weeks old is still to young for laying feed and if i should feed grower feed with oyster shell available instead of layer feed? Thanks in advance

 

[lilmouthy]

From what every one on here says...you shouldn't start laying feed until you get your first egg. Mine are only 10 weeks old...still on grower feed. I'll keep them that way till I get my first egg.

 

[happytxchick]

I use DuMor feed -- the bag has a chart on the back. They should be on starter till 10 weeks, then grower until about 18 weeks (I'm not looking at the bag, just trying to go off of memory).

 

[kathyinmo]

You should not feed layer until they are laying. Too much calcium for the chicks. I read a thread a week or so ago, someone that lost her chicks due to layer feed.

How old are your older hens, that you want to put these chicks in with?

 

[Chickadee30]

I know this is old but I just realized my 10 wk old chicks have been eating some of the runoff layer feed for my other chickens. Is this a problem?!? Should I worry? They have these rock hard balls/bulges on the front of their throat. I thought it was a tumor but all 5 of them have it and in the same exact spot.

 

[Toddrick]

I know this is old but I just realized my 10 wk old chicks have been eating some of the runoff layer feed for my other chickens. Is this a problem?!? Should I worry? They have these rock hard balls/bulges on the front of their throat. I thought it was a tumor but all 5 of them have it and in the same exact spot.

That ball is just their crop, where they store food before it goes to the gizzard. It just means they are full. And I'm sure some layer feed won't hurt them, you just don't want them to have that as their only food.