What's after Starter Feed?

[Kerrigirl]

So I am brand new to chickens and I have my pullets on a starter feed (they are 6 1/2 weeks). When do I switch them off the starter feed? What do I switch them too? Also, this may be a strange question, but can I give them a bath? Like I said, I am a newbie...Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Judy]

Usually you switch to a grower feed somewhere around 8 weeks (don't throw feed away; you can mix them) then layer when they start laying or around 20-22 weeks. Or you can feed them flock raiser, but the layers will need more calcium.

People often bathe grown chickens for showing. There is not usually any other reason to, though, if they are not sick. It would be easy to chill young chicks too much by bathing.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Most starters you can also feed until they start laying.

 

[mikecnorthwest]

We feed Purina Start and Grow which works as a starter and grower. We feed this until the first lay or the last bag of Start and Grow when they're around 18 -20 weeks. Then we switch to Purina Layena. The bottom line is you want to wait on the layer feed until they're about to lay or have started to lay.

You can google search how to give chickens a bath. I've never done it.