Chicken Feed by Life Stage: Starter, Grower, Layer, All-Flock

Starter (0-8 weeks): 18-20% protein crumble. Use medicated starter (with amprolium, a thiamine blocker that helps chicks build coccidiosis resistance) if the chicks were not vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery. Non-medicated starter is fine when chicks are vaccinated or raised in a very clean brooder. Grower (8-18 weeks): 16-18% protein, lower calcium. Prevents pullets from laying down too much bone and fat before point of lay. Layer (18 weeks and up, once the first egg appears): 16% protein and 3.5-4.5% calcium so shells stay strong. Do not feed layer to non-laying birds, chicks, or roosters. All-Flock or Flock-Raiser (any age, mixed flocks): 18-20% protein, low calcium, plus a separate dish of crushed oyster shell so hens in lay can top up calcium on demand. Great for mixed-age flocks, molting hens, and flocks with roosters. Broiler/meat starter and finisher runs 20-24% protein and is a different track entirely, meant for meat birds harvested by 8-10 weeks. Switch feeds gradually over 5-7 days by mixing the old and new bag to avoid soft manure.