When do you start feeding real food to chicks?

[ChimiChanga808]

I have 3 week old chicks eating starter feed.
when & what should I start introducing real food?
And when to stop feeding starter feed?

 

[DobieLover]

I have 3 week old chicks eating starter feed.
when & what should I start introducing real food?
And when to stop feeding starter feed?

You don't have to ever stop feeding starter feed. It's a good feed.
I have never, in over three years, fed layer feed and never will. I don't like the constant high calcium level or the low protein level. I feed 18-20% protein in a complete feed, either Flock Raiser, All Flock or a fermented mix made from organic grains, fish meal and Fertrell Poultry Nutri-balancer.
If you want to give the chicks something good for them, give them a chunk of sod from the yard for them to dig and scratch through. They will find all kinds of bugs and critters in it, eat some stone for grit and eat the grass and weeds.
If you feed the chicks anything other than starter, you need to have a container of chick grit on the side for them so they can process other foods.

 

[catballou]

I have 3 week old chicks eating starter feed.
when & what should I start introducing real food?
And when to stop feeding starter feed?

I feed starter feed until they are 4 months old and start giving them some flock raiser as well at about 3 months. After they start laying, I'll give them just flock raiser and calcium in a separate container.