When to change to laying feed?

[mjdtexan]

Our chicks are going to be 6 weeks old next week. I ran out of starter feed today, when do I change to laying feed? Can I give then grit yet?

Sorry I havent been on in a while, computor failure.

 

[ChickenToes]

Keep them on chick starter until they begin laying, (or around 20 weeks of age) then switch them over to layer feed. Young chicks don't need the high amount of calcium in layer feed, and they need more protein.

If your chicks are outside they can probably find their own grit. If not, it's okay to give them some grit right now.

 

[ChickaD]

Here's a handy link that explains a lot about feed options and timing:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=86893

 

[aedanmoe]

Chick feed until about 6 weeks. Then you have to put them on grower or pullet grower (same thing). At about 20 weeks or when they start laying you put them on layer feed. If you feed them chick feed till they start laying they will not develop properley.

 

[ChickaD]

Chirpy posted: "Starter is for young chicks. If you have access to grower you can switch them over to that when they are around 9 - 12 weeks old. Then switch them to layer around 20 weeks old, or when they start to lay.

Some people can only get Starter/Grower and use that until they are about 20 weeks old, or start to lay." quoted from the link mentioned above

 

[mjdtexan]

Thank Yall for the answers. The lady at our little feed store has it all mixed up. She even told me not to give them grit untill laying age because they need the grit for laying eggs. It was then that I realized that I need to come here and make sure what to feed.

The chicks are all doing fine and all are alive and getting big. When we get the computor out of the shop (not on normal putor now) I will update with pictures.

 

[ChickaD]

The folks at our little feed store got things mixed up too (even though they'd raised chickens!), so it took me a while to learn that grit and oyster shell aren't the same thing. Grit is to aid in grinding a chicken's food, if they're given anything beyond commercial feed, while oyster shell isn't hard enough to serve as grit, but supplies calcium for layers.