Starter and Grower Feed for Chicks and Pullets
A complete guide to starter and grower feed for chicks and pullets: protein levels, medicated vs non-medicated, chick grit, and when to switch to layer feed.
The feed your chicks and pullets eat in their first 18 weeks sets the foundation for healthy adult birds and strong laying. Young chickens need more protein than laying hens and, critically, much less calcium. Get this stage right and you raise robust pullets ready to lay on schedule. This guide covers starter feed, grower feed, the medicated question, chick grit, and the timing of every transition.
Below are reliable, widely available starter and grower feeds. Match the protein to the age of your birds and keep feed available at all times during the growing period.
Best Starter and Grower Feeds
Manna Pro Medicated Chick Starter Grower, 18% Protein
$12.99 on Amazon
Crumbles with amprolium for coccidiosis prevention, hatch to 16 weeks
Purina Farm to Flock 18% Grower Chick Food
$24.99 on Amazon
Complete grower ration for pullets up to point of lay
Scratch and Peck Feeds Grower Crumbles for Chickens & Ducks
$32.99 on Amazon
Non-GMO grower crumbles for steady pullet development
Mile Four Chick Grit for Baby Chicks
$13.99 on Amazon
Fine insoluble grit so chicks can digest treats and greens
Starter Feed: The First Six Weeks
Chicks grow faster in their first weeks than at any other point in life, and they need protein to do it. Starter feed delivers 18 to 20 percent protein in a fine crumble that small beaks can manage. It is complete, so chicks need nothing else but clean water and, once they eat anything beyond the crumble, a little chick grit. Keep starter available around the clock in a clean chick feeder, and refresh water often since chicks foul it quickly.
Grower Feed: Six to Eighteen Weeks
Once chicks pass roughly six weeks, grower feed takes over with slightly lower protein, around 15 to 17 percent. The goal shifts from explosive growth to steady, even development. Grower feed keeps calcium low, which protects the kidneys and skeleton of birds that are not yet laying. Pullets stay on grower right up until they begin to lay. Some products simply combine the two stages into a starter-grower fed straight through, which is convenient and works well.
Medicated vs Non-Medicated
The most common question new keepers ask is whether to use medicated starter. Medicated feed contains amprolium, which helps chicks develop resistance to coccidiosis, a parasite that thrives in warm, damp brooders and can kill chicks quickly. Amprolium is not an antibiotic and does not linger in future eggs. The one exception is chicks vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery: for them, use non-medicated feed, because the medication can cancel out the vaccine. If you are unsure whether your chicks were vaccinated, ask the hatchery.
Feed by Stage at a Glance
| Age | Feed | Protein | Calcium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 weeks | Starter | 18 to 20% | Low |
| 6 to 18 weeks | Grower | 15 to 17% | Low |
| 18+ weeks (laying) | Layer | 16% | High (3.5 to 4%) |
The calcium column is the one to watch. Layer-level calcium is harmful to growing birds, so never feed layer feed to chicks or pullets before they lay. See our layer feed guide for the next stage.
Chick Grit: Smaller and Separate
Chicks on plain starter crumble do not need grit, but the day they get treats, greens, or ground time, they need chick-sized grit to grind it. Chick grit is finely crushed insoluble stone, much smaller than adult grit, offered free choice in its own dish. Do not confuse grit with oyster shell. Chicks must never get laying-hen oyster shell, because the calcium load harms their development. Our grit and oyster shell guide explains the difference in detail.
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Feeding a Mixed-Age Flock
If you cannot separate chicks, pullets, hens, and roosters, an all-flock or flock-raiser feed solves the problem. These run around 18 to 20 percent protein with low calcium, safe for every age and sex. You then set out crushed oyster shell free choice so laying hens can top up their calcium while the rest of the flock ignores it. This is the standard approach for backyard flocks with birds at different stages and keeps feeding simple.
When to Switch to Layer Feed
Make the switch to layer feed at point of lay, around 18 weeks or when the first egg appears. Watch for reddening combs, the squatting posture, and nesting box interest. Switching too early risks kidney and bone problems from excess calcium, while switching too late briefly shortchanges a new layer's calcium needs, which oyster shell on the side can cover. When in doubt, wait for that first egg as your green light.
Chick Feed Quick Links
- Manna Pro Medicated Chick Starter - hatch to 16 weeks
- Mile Four Chick Grit - sized for baby chicks
- Browse all chick feed on Amazon
The Bottom Line
Feed high-protein starter for the first six weeks, step down to grower until point of lay, and keep calcium low the whole way. Choose medicated starter unless your chicks were vaccinated for coccidiosis. Offer chick grit once birds eat anything beyond crumble, keep feed available at all times, and switch to layer feed only when the eggs start. Raise pullets on this plan and you set up a flock of healthy hens that lay well from the start. For sick chicks, contact a poultry vet promptly, as young birds decline fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between starter and grower feed?
Starter feed is the highest-protein ration, usually 18 to 20 percent, fed to chicks from hatch through about 6 weeks to fuel rapid early growth. Grower feed steps the protein down to roughly 15 to 17 percent for pullets from about 6 to 18 weeks, supporting steady growth without pushing birds to mature too fast. Both keep calcium low, unlike layer feed, because too much calcium harms developing kidneys and bones. Many products combine the two as a starter-grower fed straight through to point of lay.
Should I use medicated or non-medicated chick starter?
Medicated chick starter contains amprolium, which helps young chicks build resistance to coccidiosis, a common and deadly intestinal parasite. It is a good choice for most backyard chicks, especially in warm, damp brooders or larger groups. If your chicks were vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery, use non-medicated feed, since the medication can interfere with the vaccine. Amprolium is not an antibiotic and does not affect eggs later. When unsure, ask your hatchery whether chicks were vaccinated.
Do chicks need grit?
Chicks eating only starter crumble do not need grit, because the fine feed digests without grinding. The moment they get anything else, treats, chopped greens, or time on the ground, they need chick-sized grit to process it. Chick grit is finely crushed insoluble stone, much smaller than adult grit. Offer it free choice in a small dish, separate from feed. Do not give laying-hen oyster shell to chicks, as the excess calcium is harmful to their growing bodies.
When do I switch from grower to layer feed?
Switch from grower to layer feed at point of lay, generally around 18 weeks or when you see the first egg. The signal to watch for is reddening combs and wattles, the squatting posture, and interest in nesting boxes. Switching earlier exposes non-laying pullets to layer feed's high calcium, which can damage kidneys. If birds are clearly past 18 weeks and showing pre-lay behavior, the switch is safe. Until then, keep them on grower feed.
Can I feed all my chickens the same feed?
In a mixed-age or mixed-sex flock, an all-flock or flock-raiser feed at around 18 to 20 percent protein and low calcium works for everyone, from chicks to roosters. You then offer crushed oyster shell free choice so laying hens get the calcium they need without forcing it on the rest. This simplifies feeding when you cannot separate birds by stage. Just be sure chicks have access and that the laying hens are actually taking oyster shell on the side.
How much do chicks and pullets eat?
Young chicks eat small amounts that grow steadily, starting at well under an ounce a day and climbing as they grow. The simplest approach is to keep starter or grower feed available at all times so growing birds never run short, since restricting feed slows development. Provide constant fresh, clean water too, kept shallow or with marbles in the dish so tiny chicks cannot drown. Free-choice feeding through the growing period supports the steady growth pullets need to lay well later.
Can chicks eat treats?
Keep treats minimal for chicks. Their fast growth depends on the balanced nutrition in starter feed, and treats dilute that. If you do offer small treats like a few mealworms or chopped greens for bonding, keep them well under 10 percent of intake and always provide chick grit so the chicks can digest them. Skip sugary, salty, or processed foods entirely. The best thing for a chick is plenty of good starter feed and clean water.
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