Next question on the chicks.

[Stapfam]

Just on 4 weeks old and still got 6 lively little bundles that are looking tatty now. Think we may have 2 cockerels and 4 hens and for that I am going by the combs. Two have a prominent comb that only looks like an orange streak from the beak rearwards and the others have nothing showing yet except a darker line where it will come.

So 4 weeks old and they are still on Chick crumb. When do the move on from this and onto what? Research on other forums suggest Growers pellets from 8 weeks old but have also heard that 12 weeks is a better time to move onto layers pellets. And how about greenstuff? Have offered it but no interest shown from MUM so they don't go for it.

I would post pics but MUM is very protective and the chicks are impossible to catch. Will try to get pics showing the combs but all I have got so far is a blur moving very fast across the lens.

 

[Marigold]

Keep them on chick crumb until they are 8 weeks old and then start blending it with growers pellets until they are on these by 10 weeks. They must then stay on growers until they are at least 18 - 20 weeks as the high levels of calcium in layers pellets is very harmful to them, it may cause kidney damage and other developmental problems. I expect by the time they are 6 weeks Mum will get fed up with them and want to get back with her mates, and then the chicks/growers can make their own choice about greenstuff etc.

 

[Chuck]

8 or 12 weeks, the age is not critical. Some adapt to the pellets quickly and others take a little longer so I always have a feeder with chick and a feeder with pellets from around 8 weeks so they can adapt at their leisure. They can also be fed a little mixed corn as a scratch feed at this time which breaks up the monotony of the comound feed but make sure they have grit, which they should have anyway.

Depends what green food you offer. Lots of garden weeds are very palatable, chickweed in particular but short grass and clover as are dandelions and seeding sorrel.

Comb development is a good indication of sex and those with early combs are invariably males. Some males sprout a comb later than the others though.