when do I take chicks off starter food

[chicken curious]

Most that do switch there feed will feed a Starter up to 12 weeks of age than switch to a grower. A Grower type feed is lower in protein than a Starter and in some cases a Layer type feed, this is to slow growth rate down so that the bird has time to fully fill out and build up strong bones and mussels.

This might help you out some.

Starter --
A balanced feed meant as the sole ration for chicks from hatching to twelve weeks of age.
At 12 weeks of age the birds can be changed to Grower or Developer. Starter can be Medicated or Non-Medicated when Medicated it is with either Amprolium or Lasalocid. Starter is available in Mash, Crumble or Pellet form.

Stater/ Grower --
A balanced feed meant as the sole ration for chicks from hatching to chickens begin to lay, this feed can be Medicated or Non-Medicated. If medicated it will be with either Amprolium or Lasalocid. Starter/ Grower is available mostly in Crumble or Pellet form.

Grower --
Feed as the sole ration to chicks 12 weeks of age as a finisher. Grower feed is meant to feed until the chickens begin to lay, then bird can be switched to a complete Laying. Most Grower feed is Non-Medicated but some are Medicated with Bacitracin. Grower is mostly available in available in Crumble or Pellet form.

Finisher -- See above for Grower

Layer --
Feed as the sole diet to laying hens maximum production of eggs. Do not feed Layer feed to poultry, which are not in production because of the high calcium levels in the diet. This is particularly true of young growing birds. Layer is available in Mash, Crumble or Pellet form.

Layer/ Breeder --
Feed as the sole diet to laying hens and breeders for maximum production and for improved hatchability. Do not feed Layer feed to poultry, which are not in production because of the high calcium levels in the diet. This is particularly true of young growing birds. Layer/ Breeder is available in Pellet form.



Chris

THANK YOU, Chris for this explanation! I get my feed locally and they only have the starter and then layer. I got confused and switched up to layer at 8 weeks b/c I had in my mind I was supposed to switch to grower at some point and they'd finished the bag of starter. They ate the layer for about 1.5 weeks and then I realized the error and switched back to starter. I hope they will still "fully fill out and build up strong bones and muscles" even if my brand doesn't have a grower that's lower in protein. They are out on deep leaf litter hunting bugs all day so hopefully the % calcium in the layer feed didn't make up such a high % of their diet that it caused any damage.

 

[llandry]

WOW Chris!! Your response was way more than I was expecting to receive and I can't thank you enough for your time. This time yesterday I was completely confused and now I know exactly what to do in regards to feeding. I really appreciate it.


Libby

 

[ChickiesInUtah]

Thank you Chris. I'm red in the face because I thought chickens went straight to layer feed after 8/9 weeks. I'm glad I'm thoroughly researching this (my chicks are on starter and move to the coop this weekend).

I'll either keep them on starter or buy some grower/developer until I see an egg.

 

[johnhenn]

I just started this whole "chicken experience" not knowing a thing and I have fed mine non medicated starter/grower plus they usually have free run of the backyard. They are ten weeks old and SUPER healthy hearty girls. I gave two of the same chicks to a friend who lives on a farm and knows what she is doing and she fed hers medicated starter and then moved them to a mix of that and layer mix and they look and act nothing like mine! Just sayin' hope this helps

 

[clucking cuties]

My oldest ones are not quite ready for layer feed yet, but getting close. I have a couple of young roosters, is it ok for them to eat layer feed as well due to the higher calcium content, or do they need to eat something else?

 

[speckledhen]

We cannot get a plain old pullet grower in my area so mine stay on the combo starter/grower (18% protein) until they go into the adult coop around 15 weeks of age. Then, they eat layer feed with the rest of the birds, though it's a tad early. Sometimes, if I have a larger group of youngsters entering the adult coop, I'll get a bag of Game Bird Flight Conditioner (which is a type of grower feed, though expensive) for the main flock to transition them, but I rarely bother with it.

If you feed your layers the layer pellets/crumble, the roosters who live with them will be eating that. Mine do. I don't spend extra money for other feeds, though some folks use grower for their layers and hope they eat enough oyster shell for calcium. I cannot afford to do that since starter and grower type feeds are more expensive than layer feed.


My handicapped rooster recently passed away, but for all of his 4 years, he ate Knockout Game Feed, an 11 grain scratch feed as his sole ration, since he was alone in his own "apartment".


All my groups get to free range once they go into their respective adult flocks so they supplement their commercial feeds as well.

 

[llandry]

Thanks for all of the information! Do you feed oyster shells as a treat, supplement or nutritional requirement? If mine are 8 wks old and on a starter/grower, do I need oyster shells?

 

[speckledhen]

Oyster shell is a calcium supplement for hens who are producing eggs. They don't need it until they are laying and some folks don't give it at all unless they start getting soft shelled eggs. I hang a hopper type rabbit feeder on the wall and put mine in that and the hens go to it as they need it.

 

[clucking cuties]

Thanks Royal Henliness for your advice,
I love your avatar, hopefully some day I will have a regal looking bird like that.

 

[llandry]

Thanks speckledhen for all of the info!