Knowing when to change chicken feed is one of those questions that had me scratching my head when I first started my backyard chicken journey. If you’re in the same boat, don’t worry! I’ve compiled everything you need to know about transitioning your chickens through different feed types at the right times
Understanding Different Types of Chicken Feed
Before diving into when to switch feeds let’s get familiar with the various types available for different life stages
Starter Feed (0-6 Weeks)
Starter feed is specifically formulated for baby chicks from hatch until they’re about six weeks old This high-protein option (18-24% protein) provides essential nutrients to support their rapid growth and development during this critical period.
I always add a supplement like First Peep to my chicks’ starter feed for an extra boost to their immune, digestive, and respiratory systems. It’s made a noticeable difference in how quickly my chicks adapt to their new environment!
Grower Feed (6-16 Weeks)
Around six weeks of age, it’s time to transition to grower feed. This feed contains slightly less protein (16-18%) than starter feed, which supports steady growth without promoting excessive weight gain too quickly. This is important because we don’t want pullets developing too fast, which could cause health issues later.
Layer Feed (16-20 Weeks and Beyond)
Once your hens start laying eggs (usually around 16-20 weeks), they need layer feed. This feed includes extra calcium (with about 16-18% protein) to support strong eggshells and provide essential nutrients for laying hens.
Trust me on this – always choose a high-quality layer feed! You’ll definitely see the difference in your egg production and shell quality. I learned this lesson the hard way when I tried to save a few bucks on cheaper feed.
Finisher Feed (For Meat Birds)
If you’re raising meat birds, finisher feed is given during the final weeks before processing. This feed is high in protein and energy to promote weight gain. Just be sure to monitor your flock closely during this stage to ensure their health, as they can get chunky pretty fast!
The Right Time to Change Chicken Feed
Based on Age
The most straightforward factor for switching feed is your chickens’ age:
- 0-6 weeks: Starter feed
- 6-16 weeks: Grower feed
- 16-20 weeks and beyond: Layer feed
- Meat birds final weeks: Finisher feed
Don’t stress if things overlap a little. For example, when integrating flocks of different ages, some younger chickens might start layer feed slightly earlier—and that’s okay. Chickens are pretty adaptable!
Signs Your Chickens Need a Feed Change
Sometimes, your flock will show you it’s time for a change. Look for these signs:
- Decline in Egg Production: This could indicate a nutritional deficiency. Switching to a high-quality layer feed may help boost production.
- Molting or Poor Feather Development: Increasing protein during molting helps your chickens recover faster and develop healthy new feathers.
- Digestive Issues: This might call for a different type of feed or more gradual feed changes to prevent upset.
- Weight Changes: Significant weight gain or loss might mean your flock’s current feed isn’t meeting their nutritional needs.
Making the Transition Smooth
Switching feeds too quickly can cause digestive upset, which no chicken keeper wants to deal with! To ease the transition:
Mix the Old Feed with the New
The best approach is to gradually increase the ratio of new feed over several days. Here’s a simple schedule I follow:
| Day | Old Feed | New Feed |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 75% | 25% |
| 3-4 | 50% | 50% |
| 5-6 | 25% | 75% |
| 7+ | 0% | 100% |
Monitor Behavior
During the transition, make sure your flock continues to eat normally and doesn’t show signs of distress. I always keep an eye on my girls’ droppings too – changes in consistency or color might indicate the transition is too quick.
Add Supplements During Transition
I recommend adding a daily vitamin supplement like Chicken E-lixir to their water during feed transitions. It’s an easy way to ensure your chickens are getting all the nutrients they need while their bodies adjust to the new feed.
Special Considerations
Managing Mixed Flocks
If you have chickens of different ages in one flock, feed management can get tricky. The general rule is to feed everyone the starter/grower feed and offer additional calcium (like oyster shells) in a separate dish for the older birds who are laying. This way, the young birds won’t get too much calcium, which can harm their kidneys, while the layers can get what they need.
Once everyone reaches 18 weeks, you can switch them all to layer feed together.
Form Matters: Crumbles vs. Pellets
Chickens can be picky about the form of their feed! My flock protested when I switched from crumble to pellets, but I stuck with it because pellets are less messy and keep the coop cleaner. While they didn’t love the change at first, they adjusted after a week or so and are now thriving.
Neither crumbles nor pellets is necessarily “better” – they contain the same nutrition. It’s more about your preference and what works best for your setup. Some chicken keepers find that crumbles get wasted more easily as chickens scratch through their feeders.
Supplemental Calcium
In addition to layer feed, laying hens need supplemental calcium. Crushed oyster shells are a great option and should be offered free-choice in a separate dish (not mixed into their feed). This allows each hen to consume additional calcium as needed, since individual needs vary.
Some chicken keepers also offer crushed eggshells, which is fine, but they shouldn’t be the only calcium source. Oyster shells are essential for optimal eggshell development.
Don’t Forget the Grit!
Grit is different from calcium supplements – it consists of tiny stones and sand that chickens use for digestion since they don’t have teeth. If your chickens are free-range, they’ll probably find enough natural grit, but coop-confined birds will need you to provide it.
Practical Feeding Tips
- Keep food outside the coop to reduce mess and prevent attracting rodents
- Adult chickens need about 1/4 pound of feed daily (roughly 1/4 cup per feeding if you feed twice daily)
- Introduce treats only after 16-18 weeks, and follow the 90:10 rule (90% regular feed, 10% treats)
- Make feed available from sunrise to dusk for chickens over 8 weeks old (younger chicks need 24/7 access)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Waiting until the first egg appears before switching to layer feed. Start the transition at around 18 weeks, before laying begins.
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Switching feeds abruptly. This can cause digestive issues, diarrhea, and even trigger molting.
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Mixing calcium supplements directly into feed. Some chickens need more calcium than others, so offering it separately allows them to self-regulate.
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Forgetting to adjust feed when seasons change. Chickens often need more calories during cold weather to maintain body temperature.
My Experience
When I first switched my flock from starter to grower feed, I did it cold turkey (pun intended!), and my poor girls had runny droppings for days. I learned my lesson and now make all feed transitions gradually.
Last year, I had a mixed flock of different ages, and I found that keeping the younger birds on starter/grower while offering oyster shells separately for my layers worked perfectly. The pullets developed at a healthy rate, and my layers continued producing eggs with strong shells.
Final Thoughts
Switching chicken feed doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little planning and by keeping an eye on your flock’s health and behavior, you’ll master feed transitions in no time. Remember, your chickens are individuals with unique needs, so don’t be afraid to adjust based on what’s working for your specific flock.
The bottom line is to make changes gradually, watch for signs that your birds are thriving, and enjoy the journey of raising happy, healthy chickens!
Have you had any interesting experiences switching your chickens’ feed? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
What is chick starter feed?
Photo credit:
Alright, so we discussed the texture and form that the baby chicks feed should be in. Now it’s time to talk about the actual chicken feed itself that you should be giving your baby chicks.
Baby chicks have special dietary needs. By “special dietary needs” I mean these rapidly growing bundles of fluff and feathers need protein, protein, and more protein! That’s where “chick starter feed” comes into the picture.
Chicken starter feed has 20-24% protein content crammed into it, which is just what your baby chicken needs for its rapid growth. However, there’s a point where the young chicks doesn’t need that much protein anymore. You don’t want to overload your chicken with protein by giving it chicken starter feed for the rest of its life or it will cause a myriad of problems —> one being: kidney problem.
That’s the reason why after about 9-10 weeks you’ve got to gradually ween your little chicken off the sky high protein content of starter chicken feed and get them eating a new ration type of chicken food…
Food for adult chickens – what is chicken layer feed? Photo credit: Dawn’s (my) flock eating pellets with
Alright, we’ve finally gotten to the goods that your almost egg laying ladies need to be eating…. – layer chicken feed!
Layer chicken feed has, according to manufacturing standards, just-the-right blend of protein, calcium and a ton of specific vitamins and minerals that are meant to support the egg laying ability of your adult chickens and the quality of the eggs they lay! You know, the additional nutrients prebiotics, probiotics, calcium, magnesium, and omega-3s.
Omega-3s are vital for more nutritious eggs, while protein helps hens maintain their energy levels as they continue to grow and lay. The prebiotics and probiotics boost immune and digestive health. Calcium, which may deplete with daily egg laying. Ahnnd, lastly magnesium are needed for strong shells and bones.
Theres a catch to this too. Different feed manufacturers choose a variety of different ingredients and supplemental ingredients that are known to be beneficial additions to yolk color, gut health, feather sheen and on and on.
With this in mind: I also allow my chickens to free-range when I can. Free ranging gives them the ability to ingest little pebbles, bugs, grasses, to dust and fluff and get out and explore. Additionally, I add certified organic kelp, Cluckn Sea Kelp to their diet and add supplemental herbs to aid their changing bodies throughout the seasons.
When To Switch Chickens From Starter Feed To Layer Feed
FAQ
When should I switch my chicken feed?
When birds reach 18 weeks old or when the first egg arrives, gradually switch your laying hens to a complete layer feed. It’s important to make the transition over time to prevent digestive upset. On our farm in Missouri, we’ve found it’s best to make chicken feed transitions over time rather than all at once.
What is the 90/10 rule for chickens?
The “90/10 rule” for chickens refers to a feeding guideline that recommends 90% of a chicken’s daily diet should be a complete feed, while the remaining 10% can be treats.
What happens if you give chickens layer feed too early?
Feeding layers too soon can encourage early laying, which in turn can lead to other problems, prolapse being one of them. POL is one recommendation, as is when they have actually started laying. I tend to do the latter.
How long to keep chickens on starter feed?
When to switch chicken feed?
When to switch chicken feeds. Going from chick ration to growers and on to layer pellets. In the first 6 to 8 weeks of life, chicks grow extremely fast and the demand for protein to build muscle, bone and tissues is critical. Can you switch straight to layer feed from chick crumb or do you have to feed growers?
How often should I change my chicken’s feed?
If you are switching from a pelleted feed to a crumble feed, or vice versa, be sure to do so gradually over a period of 1 week. Provide your chickens with plenty of fresh water at all times, especially during a feed change. If you have any questions or concerns about changing your chicken’s feed, be sure to consult with your veterinarian.
Should you switch feed for your chickens?
The most straightforward factor for switching feed is your chickens’ age. Follow the general guidelines for feed types, but don’t stress if things overlap a little. For example, when integrating flocks of different ages, some younger chickens might start layer feed slightly earlier—and that’s okay.
How do I change my chicken’s feed?
The best way to change a chicken’s feed is to do it gradually over a period of 7-10 days. This will help to prevent digestive upset and other health problems. To do this, start by mixing 90% of the old feed with 10% of the new feed. Then, each day, increase the amount of new feed by 10% until you are feeding 100% of the new feed.
Can I change my chickens feed abruptly?
It is not a good idea to switch your chickens feed abruptly, ideally it should be done gradually with ever increasing amounts of the new feed over the course of 10 days. The best way to change a chicken’s feed is to do it gradually over a period of 7-10 days. This will help to prevent digestive upset and other health problems.
When should baby chicks switch to layer feed?
Baby chick starter/grower crumbles. But it’s at 18 weeks that baby chicks are no longer babies and are officially adults and will begin laying soon. Therefore, at this age they should begin the transition to layer feed. Why Make the Switch to Layer Feed?