I went from chick/starter (1-8 wks.), to grower/finisher (8-18wks.) and I believe the next is the layer. My chicks are 12wks. old.
I just feed my girls starter until they start laying then I switch them over to layer mash. Hope I am some help.
I usually buy 50 pounds of starter for 30 chicks. Whenever that runs out I buy Flockraiser or turkey grower (all purpose feed) for the entire flock, hens and chicks. Usually by this time the chicks have been moved from the indoor brooder to the coop brooder...fully feathered, weather permitting. And I provide oyster shell for the hens in the flock. When the chicks are 16-18 week old, and the bag of Flockraiser/grower runs out we start buying layer pellets for the entire flock.
As you see there are several approaches open to you. You can also never switch to layer, but you have to be sure there is a calcium source available for those laying, usually oyster shell. I feed my whole flock grower or flock raiser as some are too young for layer and it's not the best for roosters, either. I keep a dish of oyster shell and another of grit separately. Probably the most important thing is not to feed layer too early, as the extra calcium is harmful to young chicks.
