Redwing Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 About six or seven weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RRRisnewtochickens Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Shouldn't they go onto growers pellets from chick crumb at 6-7 weeks and then onto layers at about 18 weeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Yep, growers first and then layers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 I used growers pellets - but 'tis necessary. Its the step in between chick crumb and layers pellets - its a higher protein and so the chicks will need it to grow properly. From 6 or 7 weeks introduce growers, and then from 19 weeks (POL) introduce layers pellets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txswanie Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Try crumbles instead of pellets, its probably an easier switch. My lot seem to like them better. Colette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Layers pellets have too much calcium for growing chicks, and not enough protein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 I did read somewhere that in some remote places (the Hebrides maybe) they don't have growers and they use layers from crumb - I certainly wouldn't take it as gospel, but they said they have no problems with it (but then if they are FR all the time, they wouldn't eat much pellet-wise until coming into lay). Personally, for the price of one sack of growers I probably wouldn't take the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 I go from chick crumb to chick crumb & growers mixed at week 5. At week 6 they go onto just growers. I introduce layers at about 16 - 17 weeks. They are fully on just layers at 18 weeks. Chicks raised by a broody helped themselves to mummy's treats at about 4 days old! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share Posted June 3, 2010 Sorry i thought it said growers pellets not layers speed reading Layers pellets has too much calcium for growers, it will cause problems and encourage them to lay too early which seriously impacts their growth - I had this happen when my husband fed the wrong things from the wrong bins for about a month, a promising young show chook now stunted in growth, not looking very mature but laying If you had no option you could feed chick crumb to the layers pellet stage but they will eat more of it and waste more, growers pellets are the way to go Its not the extra protein in the growers thats so much of an issue its the extra calcium in the layers pellets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
