Switch feed to grower/finisher at 6 weeks?

[ImNotYogi]

Instead at 8 as it says on the bags. Just turned 6 weeks today and I'm down to about a feedings worth of feed. Buying smaller bags seems like a waste of money but I equally don't want to buy two 50# bags in two weeks if the only difference between them seems to be the protein level (correct me if I'm wrong). Will switching them early hurt or could I keep them on starter/grower until that bag is empty?

 

[Percheron chick]

You can do either. I like to switch to crumbles on my second bag because it reduces waste. Agree that the small bags are a ripoff. Always buy the big bags. It might take some time to work through it. I figure 10#/chick for the first 10 weeks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I very much agree with Percheron. It really doesn’t matter for a backyard flock. If you are raising them for show, just for meat, or something like that, a special feeding regime would be good, but for a typical backyard flock that will become a laying flock you can do a lot of different things and they will be fine. The only rule is to not feed them Layer when they are still growing. The extra calcium in Layer can harm a growing chick’s internal organs. If you check the percent calcium on all the other feeds it’s going to be about the same, pretty close to 1%. In Layer, calcium is about 4%.

A typical way to feed growing chicks that will become a backyard flock mostly for laying eggs is to start them off with a fairly high percent protein for the first few weeks, often around 20% though that can vary some. That helps them get off to a good start and helps them feather out faster. Then anywhere from 4 week to 8 weeks (longer if the bag of feed has not run out) you switch to something with lower protein, maybe around 16%. After they have that good start they don’t need the extra protein and the lower protein feed is generally a little less expensive. Why spend money for something they don’t need? A little extra protein won’t hurt them but they just don’t need it. A lot of people do continue to feed them a feed with about 20% protein until they start to lay or even later, but after they get past 4 weeks it’s just not really needed. Still, it does not hurt the chicks.

I like your question. It shows you are thinking. One of the things that makes this complicated for some people is that so many different things work. They just have too many options.

 

[ImNotYogi]

Its settled then. I'll just get some grower/finisher today. I actually want to try fermented feed to reduce waste.

 

[Debby R]

I went to fermented food for several weeks with my chicks. They loved it but the problem was my work schedule. Didn't want to leave out all day in the heat and never knew when I was getting home to feed them again. So I switched back. But I'd do it if I had the time!

 

[Debby R]

Thanks for the comprehensive answer! Still have a lot of starter left with 6 week chicks. Just finished Raising Chickens for Dummies and they made it sound like I needed to switch to grower at 6 weeks for my layers but I like your answer. I'll be finishing my big bag!