Which food now?

[Harley Chick]

I just filled up our feeders with the last of the chick starter feed. All has been on this from day one. I have 4 ladies that are just over 15 weeks, one 12 weeks today and my lil one is about 7-8 weeks old. I'm still confused about the different types of feed so I'll refer back to this awesome group for incite. I know chick starter is an all purpose baby feed but I've heard terms like grower & layer? So what is the difference? Can I switch all of the girls to the next level or does my youngest still need chick feed?

 

[peeper89]

u can continue w/ chick start or use flock raiser.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There are subtle differences in vitamin, fat, energy and most minerals but the primary difference in feeds is crude protein percentage and calcium percentage. All chickens not laying eggs (building egg shells) do well on about 1% calcium which is in all feeds except layer. Layer feed has 4% calcium and is too much for birds not building shells.
Young growing birds need more protein. 18-21%.
By the time they are the age of your birds, their bodies are nearly completely grown. They can get by on about 15% protein till they start ovulating. Then they need a bit more to produce eggs. 16-17%.
To answer your initial question, read the bag.
Each manufacturer puts a chart on the back of the feed bag with feeding instructions and when to switch between the various feeds they produce based on the nutritional needs of those birds.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I would go with 1 more 50# bag of Grower or Flock Raiser feed...... and then after that bag is done, I would go with a Layer feed.

 

[Criticalicious]

It's probably OK to keep the flock on grower until the youngest is close to laying age and supplement everyone with calcium free choice. Those who need it will eat it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good answer.

 

[Harley Chick]

Thank you all for your advise. I will go along with suggestions and buy a flock feed. I have oyster shells in the run but they don't seem to pay it much attention.........at least for now. But it's there for when it's time to start laying.

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Thank you all for your advise. I will go along with suggestions and buy a flock feed. I have oyster shells in the run but they don't seem to pay it much attention.........at least for now. But it's there for when it's time to start laying.

If they dont have older wiser hens to show them the way you may need to teach them to eat the oyster shells when they are a little older. Usually scattering it around the floor with some scratch or putting it on to of treats can help.