[Colernehens]

Hi,

Our 6 Orpington chicks are doing very well, they will be 5 weeks old this Wednesday and are eating us out of house and home. Everything we have read says that you introduce Growers at 6 weeks and fully wean them off chick crumb by 8 weeks.

Is there any reason they can't start on growers earlier, say at 5 weeks??

If not no problem, will just need to get another truck load of chick crumb 

Many thanks all advice much appreciated.

[joyfull]

I would keep them on chick crumb for a while longer - it has the correct balance of protein and vits and minerals they need to keep up with their growth at this time.

[Colernehens]

Thanks,

We were pretty sure that it was the right thing to keep them on chick crumb until 6 weeks, but thought it worth asking as we have not had chicks before.

So I'll be off to the feed supplier on Tuesday for a lorry load of chick crumb

[joyfull]

it is fine to keep them on chick crumb for longer if you want 

[VickyW]

I am finally getting my hens today!!! Found a lady who's moving so has to seel and I'm having 3/4 Chocolate Orpingtons.
She says they're around 8-10 weeks ols and still on chick crumb, her son says to keep them on it for another month but the books say to be on growers by 8 weeks. What should I buy as I don't want a sack to go to waste?

[gracie]

My 7 week old buff orps are on growers and they are thriving.

[VickyW]

Thanks gracie, its all a bit of a rush now, the coop is made, the run nearly finished and I need to go get bedding and food in a mo, then get the chickens at 6pm!!!
I want to get it right

[joyfull]

If you are changing from crumb do so gradually over a period of a few days. Start by mixing a little of the growers into the crumb and gradually increase the ratio until it is all growers 

[VickyW]

I've just got them home!!!! "Happy Chicken Dance" I've cooped them for the night and sorted their feed for the morning, 5 parts crumb, 2 parts growers, 1 part grit.

Sooooo happy 

[joyfull]

the grit should be in a separate pot and not mixed in with their feed.

[Colernehens]

Do you need to provide grit as soon as you start introducing growers even if it is mixed with chick crumb?

Does some growers include grit? or is it always advisable to provide it?

[joyfull]

grit is used for grinding their feed, what brand of chick crumb and growers are you using? I doubt that the grit is small pebbles or tiny stones that they use.

[Colernehens]

We have Farmgate Chick Crumb and growers, but I was told that the growers had grit in it and I wouldn't need extra grit.

I have bought  some today in readiness for starting to introduce growers next weekend when they are 6 1/2 weeks, I wasn't sure that not having grit was the best option.

[joyfull]

I have just been reading their FAQ page and they say insoluble grit should be also fed from the age of 3 weeks.
It says they do not need any limestone or oyster shell grit (used for calcium) as they say their feed contains enough already, however as your chickens age it is always best to have this available - much like we need calcium to help our bones etc they need it for shells.

[Colernehens]

Yes our older girls (who are kept separate) have grit and oyster shell available to them all the time.

As this had oyster shell in and I had read on here not to give oyster shell to chick, I have bought a grit on its own for the chicks. Should I start making grit available to them even though they are still only on chick crumb?
We did put them outside again today for a while, as the sun was lovely and warm, so I guess they will have pick up stuff any way?