What to Feed a Baby Chick? | First 8 Weeks of Feed

Feed baby chicks a commercial chick starter feed with about 18–20% protein for their first 6–8 weeks.

The single most important decision in a chick’s first months is what goes in its feeder. Day-old chicks need a complete commercial chick starter feed — either plain starter or a starter-grower blend — offered as the sole ration from day one.

Getting this right sets up healthy growth, feather development, and a smooth transition to adult feed later.

Choosing the Right Starter Feed

Commercial chick starter feed is specially formulated to be a complete diet — it contains the protein, vitamins, and minerals baby chicks need, so no extra supplements are required. Look for a product labeled specifically for chicks, whether that’s a straight starter or a starter-grower blend that lasts longer.

Two factors matter most when picking a feed:

• Protein content: Most quality starters land at 18–20% crude protein. Meat birds typically need the higher end of that range, while standard layer-breed chicks do fine at 18%.
• Form: Fine crumble is the easiest for tiny chicks to eat. Mash works too, but large pellets are too big for young birds and should be avoided.

Some starters come medicated with a coccidiostat, which helps prevent coccidiosis. Whether you need medicated feed depends on whether your chicks were vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery — if they were vaccinated, non-medicated feed is generally the right call. Your hatchery or feed supplier can confirm which applies to your birds.

How to Feed Baby Chicks

Setting up the feeder correctly is simple but matters. Keep the feed available free-choice at all times, and always provide clean water alongside it.

If you’re using a branded starter-grower product, follow the label for age ranges, since these vary by manufacturer. When it’s time to move off starter feed, transition gradually over several days by mixing increasing amounts of the new feed into the old rather than switching abruptly. A sudden change can upset a chick’s digestion.

For a deeper look at which feeds perform best in real-world testing, see our tested guide to the best baby chick feed.

What Not to Feed Baby Chicks

Several common foods can harm or shortchange young chicks. Layer feed tops the avoid list: it’s formulated for laying hens and contains much higher calcium than chicks need, and early exposure can cause kidney and developmental problems. Scratch grain and cracked corn are also poor choices as the main diet — they’re treats, not complete nutrition, and lack the protein, vitamins, and minerals chicks require.

Table scraps and other treats fall in the same category. Young chicks don’t need them, and feeding them regularly dilutes the nutrition in their starter feed. If you want to introduce treats at all, wait until the birds are older and keep them occasional — starter feed should always remain the primary diet.

Feeding Timeline and Transition

Most manufacturers recommend starter for the first 6–8 weeks, though starter-grower blends can continue longer depending on the label. The key is reading your specific product’s guidance and adjusting based on your birds’ breed and purpose — meat birds often need starter longer or a higher-protein option than their layer-breed counterparts.

One final note: chick starter is designed to be complete, so skip supplements unless a vet or poultry nutrition expert specifically recommends them for your flock. Simple, consistent, high-quality starter feed is the most reliable path to healthy chicks.