01. Hatch to Six Weeks – Finely-Milled Chick Starter Feed, 20%-22% protein. (NO chick grit) Up until 8 weeks or so, they will need ‘chick grit’ which is much finer.
01A. “Sav-A-Chick” Electrolyte and Vitamin Supplement for Poultry
01B. Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar. (Splash)
01C. Pasty Butt
01D. Start heat at 95 and reduce to 5 degrees every week.
01E. Day 4. Introduce treats. (scrambled eggs)
02. Six Weeks to Laying Age – Grower/Developer Feed. Essentially grower feed contains a protein content that is between 16-18% but has less calcium than regular layer feed. In an eggshell, grower feed supports the continuing growth of your teenage cookies without bombarding them with unnecessary vitamins and minerals that are more suited for fully-grown laying hens.
02A. “Sav-A-Chick” Electrolyte and Vitamin Supplement for Poultry
02B. Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar. (Splash)
02C. Pasty Butt
03. Laying Adults –
03A. “Sav-A-Chick” Electrolyte and Vitamin Supplement for Poultry
03B. Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar. (Splash)
03C. Pasty Butt
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From Hatch to Around Six Weeks – Finely-Milled Chick Starter Feed
Chick will eat about 1 pound of 20%-22% protein feed per chick each week.
32 pounds of feed per chick each week. 192 pounds of feed.
At six weeks switch to a grower/developer feed at around 6 weeks of age.
Chicken Feeding Guide
From Hatch to Around Six Weeks
Baby chicks need finely-milled chick starter feed. Laying breeds (most breeds we carry are this type) will eat about 1 pound of feed per chick each week. That means for baby chicks, you need about 6 pounds of feed per chick to reach the point where they switch to a grower/developer feed at around 6 weeks of age. Up to 6 weeks old, chicks need feed with 20%-22% protein for their rapidly growing bodies.
As long as they are only eating finely-milled chick starter feed, baby chicks do not need grit to help them digest their feed. In fact, some have found it wise not to give chicks grit until they are eating other foods in addition to chick feed. Baby chicks can sometimes mistake the grit for feed and consume too much, which can lead to digestive problems. Giving them nothing but chick starter feed for their first few weeks can help keep that from happening. As soon as you introduce other foods, however, make sure you give them access to chick grit as well, which will help them digest their feed.
Six Weeks to Laying Age
Juvenile chicks will need a little over 1 pound of grower/developer feed per week until they start laying, usually somewhere between 16-24 weeks of age. This means you will need a little more than 8 pounds of grower/developer feed per juvenile. Birds from 6 weeks of age to point of lay need feed with 14%-16% protein. Please note that some brands of feeds to not have a grower or developer feed and go directly from starter to layer. Be sure to follow your feed brand’s recommended feeding schedule.
Laying Adults
When laying, adult hens will eat about 1.5-1.75 pounds of layer feed each week. Once they have started laying, they need 15%-18% protein in their feed.
Roosters and Non-Laying Hens
Mature roosters and non-laying hens can continue to eat layer feed. However, some may choose to give their flock grower/developer feed during the fall and winter if the laying hens have substantially decreased the amount of eggs they are laying. If you choose to go with grower/developer feed in this circumstance, be sure to offer supplemental calcium in the form of crushed oyster shell so any hens that continue to lay will have enough calcium to form strong shells. Source. Click here.