Last transition off medicated feed, is this bad?

[HensInHull]

Hi BYC! We have three poullettes/hens we got from chicks and started them on medicated feed.

The feed store where we got them as chicks told us to only switch to grower when we reached a quarter of the medicated feed bag left. Now almost 12-13 weeks later, I'm seeing that that may be a tad late...

Is this harmful to their growth and future laying? Also how long should they be on the grower feed then before switching to layer feed?

Thank you for the help, first-time chicken parent!

 

[Chickassan]

No it isn't harmful and I keep mine on grower until about 16 weeks.
No harm in feeding it past that point as long as you supplement their calcium when they start laying.

 

[GC-Raptor]

We have three poullettes/hens we got from chicks and started them on medicated feed.

The feed store where we got them as chicks told us to only switch to grower when we reached a quarter of the medicated feed bag left. Now almost 12-13 weeks later, I'm seeing that that may be a tad late...

What is the protein %?
If 18 to 20% your fine. Keep feeding.

Put out a container of Oyster Shells after 15 weeks old.

I feed my Chicks a Medicated Start and Grow feed 18% for at least 10 weeks, then when bag is empty I switch to Non-Medicated Starter Grower 18% till 18 weeks old or the first egg from each breed before transitioning to a Layers feed.

My newest Flock (4 Rhode Island Reds & 4 Barred Rocks) are 14 weeks old and I'm still feeding Medicated Start and Grow 18%.

I'll transition to a Layers feed 16% after 18 weeks or when I get an egg from each breed, by mixing 50/50 till Starter-Grower feed is gone. GC

 

[3KillerBs]

I've made my medicated-to-unmedicated transition by mixing the last couple feeders-full half and half so that they changed feed over the course of a week or 10 days. The process doesn't have to be very precise.

 

[K0k0shka]

I transition them when the bag runs out. It's not a precise science, so I'm not wasting any feed switching sooner. Then when the bag runs out, I switch them to flock raiser. Both the medicated starter and the flock raiser that I use (Purina) are 20% protein so it doesn't matter when you transition. I go straight from one to the other, I don't mix or dilute or whatever. The chickens are just fine. Both feeds are crumble and they are pretty much the same thing except for the medication, and the starter is ground a little smaller. So the chickens don't notice any difference.

 

[Brooks_]

I transition them when the bag runs out. It's not a precise science, so I'm not wasting any feed switching sooner. Then when the bag runs out, I switch them to flock raiser. Both the medicated starter and the flock raiser that I use (Purina) are 20% protein so it doesn't matter when you transition. I go straight from one to the other, I don't mix or dilute or whatever. The chickens are just fine. Both feeds are crumble and they are pretty much the same thing except for the medication, and the starter is ground a little smaller. So the chickens don't notice any difference.

I started my hatch on FR. They are doing very well. (similar feed practice)

 

[HensInHull]

Thank you all for your answers and incredible support!!