What to Feed (and When to Change It)

You’ve got warm chicks in a clean brooder. Now it’s time to talk feed—and this is where a lot of folks go wrong.

Feeding isn’t just about keeping them alive. It’s about setting them up to lay strong, consistent eggs down the line.

Here’s how we break it down:

Chick Starter Feed (20–22% protein)

• Use this from hatch to 6–8 weeks

• Crumbles are easier for small beaks

• Medicated is optional, but helpful if you're new to chickens or dealing with damp conditions

Grower Feed (16–18% protein)

• Feed from 8 to 18 weeks

• It’s balanced for slower, steady growth

Layer Feed (16% protein + calcium)

• Start around 18–20 weeks, or as soon as you see that first egg

• Don’t start too early—too much calcium too soon can cause kidney issues

Important: Never feed layer pellets to chicks. It can do permanent damage.

What About Treats and Scraps?
Skip the scraps until they’re at least 12 weeks old. Even then, keep treats under 10% of their diet.
No bread. No chips. You’re building hens, not hobos.

What About Grit and Oyster Shell?
Chick grit (just tiny rocks) helps them digest anything besides starter feed. Start it around week 2 if you’re giving treats.
Oyster shell should be offered free-choice—but only once they start laying. Don’t give it to chicks or pullets.

Bonus Tip – Let ‘Em Forage
Once they’re feathered out and it’s warm enough, let them outside for short, supervised trips. A little foraging goes a long way—boosts their immune system, hardens them up, and deepens those yolk colors.

Fun Chicken Fact:
Chickens can remember over 100 faces—human and animal. So yes, they absolutely know who you are. And whether or not you brought snacks.

Next Tuesday at 10AM, we’ll get into coop life and how to keep predators out. Because the chicks you’re raising now? They’re about to outgrow that brooder fast.

Stick with it. You’re doing great.
— Tim Parker
Start My Homestead