When do I start feeding baby chicks calcium?

[divagardener]

Cluck, cluck!

I have 4 baby Barred Rocks that I bought last Thursday. I bought a bag of starter food for them. I have read that they need calcium in order for their eggs to develop and read that oysters shells (I'm assuming ground) are what you feed them.

I am totally new to this. I have two questions (at least for now):

-When do I change their starter food to something more substantial?
-When do I add the oyster shells to their food (or is there a food with this added to it?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Start feed IS substantial and all that you need feed them until the first egg is found.

Calcium supplementation is only required by a hen that lays heavily. If you just got your chicks, you're 20-26 weeks away from needing to change their feed or provide any calcium supplement.

 

[divagardener]

AHHH! Thank you so much! I'm glad that I asked! I was worried that maybe the starter feed was only for the first few weeks or something. SO glad that I have BYC forum to depend on!

When do they lay their first eggs (approximately)?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hatchery Barred Rocks may lay as early as 24 weeks. Heritage lines of Standard bred Bared Rocks may take as long as 32 weeks or longer. The leaves will be turning about the time they begin this fall.

 

[Sonya9]

Depends on the breed and time of year but with spring chicks maybe 5 to 6 months old, give or take.

I have a 7 month old bantam that started laying 2 weeks ago, she is in with three 7 week old standard chicks. They are all still on starter and her eggs are fine (but I have oyster shells to give her if needed). Too much calcium is not a good thing for growing little ones.

 

[Sonya9]

Hatchery Barred Rocks may lay as early as 24 weeks. Heritage lines of Standard bred Bared Rocks may take as long as 32 weeks or longer. The leaves will be turning about the time they begin this fall.

Good to know. I thought they started a bit earlier, but then again I think I asked the feed store how long to keep them on starter and the answer was until 5 months or so.

 

[debid]

Good to know. I thought they started a bit earlier, but then again I think I asked the feed store how long to keep them on starter and the answer was until 5 months or so.

That's about right for hybrid layers but most find it easiest to just wait for eggs and switch after they start finding them. Of course, if a bag of feed lasts you months because you only have a few chicks, it helps to have some idea of when this will happen. If you're using medicated starter, you could consider switching to unmedicated or "starter/grower" at some point between putting the chicks on soil and the first egg so that there is hurry to switch. They can have a dish of oyster shell on the side for those that are laying to use (usually, the others don't bother with it other than an inspection when it first appears) while you finish off the starter/grower bag. Heck, you don't actually have to switch from a grower feed, it's just a convenience, mostly, to use layer.

 

[SlowQueen]

Great thread! I knew if I searched I would find someone who had a similar question. Thank you for posting.
I have 6 chicks that hatched 6/17/14 so my girls (hopefully they are girls) start laying in 5-6 months, we'll have eggs in time for Thanksgiving! This is my first time as a chicken Mama and loving every minute of the process so far. Darn these little birds grow quick!