Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: bantam novice on May 12, 2011, 20:28

Title: Change over from chick crumbs to growers food
Post by: bantam novice on May 12, 2011, 20:28

I have been feeding my chicks on chick crumbs and will be changing over to the next stage in about a week.  They are LS bantams and will be raised for egg laying. 

I bought a small bag of growers food, which is the next step but having got it home I have the feeling that I bought the wrong food.  I think I should have got raiser food.  Will I be able to use the growers food?

Title: Re: Change over from chick crumbs to growers food
Post by: Casey76 on May 12, 2011, 20:45

Growers/rearers is the same thing ;)

Title: Re: Change over from chick crumbs to growers food
Post by: GrannieAnnie on May 12, 2011, 22:08

Casey's right, it depends on what the manufacturers decide to call it!

Title: Re: Change over from chick crumbs to growers food
Post by: bantam novice on May 13, 2011, 07:28

Thanks  :)

Title: Re: Change over from chick crumbs to growers food
Post by: Newbie on May 14, 2011, 21:22

Can I ask what age you swap them over and will it do my laying hens any harm if they seem to do nothing but eat the chick crumb?!  I think they do have some pellets but they go mad for the crumb!!

Title: Re: Change over from chick crumbs to growers food
Post by: bantam novice on May 14, 2011, 22:33

I am intending to change over when the chicks are between 3 and 4 weeks old.

My mother broody eats the chick crumb with the chics.  However she is not laying and I think if you let your whole flock eat it there may be a withdrawal period where you can'y eat the eggs.

Title: Re: Change over from chick crumbs to growers food
Post by: GrannieAnnie on May 14, 2011, 22:39

We don't usually change over from CC to growers until 5-6 weeks.  3-4 is a bit early, although its difficult when you've got chicks with a broody.

And really Newbie, layers need all the goodness in their layers pellets to help them be healthy enough to lay you lots of lovely eggs, also layers pellets are not medicated, whereas most chick crumb is.