When can I switch chicks to whole grain feed?

[ZJchicks]

Hello all!
We have some 8 week old chicks and have been on organic feed this far. Our adult hens get a whole grain feed that is mixed by our local feed mill that is 17% protein, using cracked peas as the protein booster instead of corn/soy. It has some smaller grains like milo and other smaller things like alfalfa flakes. What age should they be before I can switch them over? Their feed currently is 19% protein. They seem kind of disinterested in the adult feed when I have thrown in some for them to peck at.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Eight weeks is when I start giving whole grains consistently. Do make sure they have grit.

If they don't have Black Oil Sun. Seeds in the mix I would offer some of those on occasion for the methionine (BOSS is in birdseed). The golden balls in the birdseed are millet (11% protein). BOSS has 16% protein.


http://www.extension.org/pages/67359/feeding-field-peas-to-poultry#.VWjQwt_088o
http://www.sunflowernsa.com/wholeseed/sunflower-as-a-feed/

You can try wetting some of the adult feed- only enough for 24 hours as a mash and see how the little ones like it.

 

[ZJchicks]

There are Black Oil Sunflower Seeds in the mix, and some millet, milo and other things. I will start transitioning them over. Just bought a bag of feed in desperation so I will blend them a little for awhile. The bag of 30 lb feed won't last long with 25 chicks so this makes me happy to hear! Thank you!