2 different age flocks... type of feed?

[Studio2770]

We have 2 cochins that are 10 weeks old and an EE that's 9 weeks old. We also have 5 leghorns that are 21-22 weeks, they are laying. The big girls treat the little ones well, they free range at the same time and there are no scuffles. The young ones have the run and sleep in a dog kennel while to older ones have the coop. We will finish off the starter and we have some finisher left, the older ones are one layer feed. Since the older ones need their nutrients for laying but the little ones can't eat layer feed, what can I feed them?

 

[Fred's Hens]

This is why virtually all feed companies produce feeds that everyone can eat. Grower, Raise, All Flock. Merely provide the hens with a calcium source on the side. Most younger birds won't mess with it as their bodies are not craving the calcium.

There's nothing magic about Layer. It is simply feed with the calcium ground in, that's all.

 

[Studio2770]

So should I just have them all on grower/finisher? With calcium on side of course. We feed them Purina Layena Plus.

 

[BantamLover21]

So should I just have them all on grower/finisher? With calcium on side of course. We feed them Purina Layena Plus.

Yes, until your younger birds reach laying age (unless you separate them), I would feed them grower/finisher. Make sure to provide either ground egg shells or crushed oyster shell for your laying hens; otherwise they will begin to have a calcium deficiency.

Here is a quick, interesting fact about the importance of calcium in hen's diets: A hen mobilizes 47% of the calcium in her bones and from her diet to create the egg shell. Therefore, if she doesn't have enough calcium to replenish that lost calcium her bones will weaken and she will stop egg production.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yes, until your younger birds reach laying age (unless you separate them), I would feed them grower/finisher. Make sure to provide either ground egg shells or crushed oyster shell for your laying hens; otherwise they will begin to have a calcium deficiency.

Here is a quick, interesting fact about the importance of calcium in hen's diets: A hen mobilizes 47% of the calcium in her bones and from her diet to create the egg shell. Therefore, if she doesn't have enough calcium to replenish that lost calcium her bones will weaken and she will stop egg production.

And... conversely, young birds fed inordinate amounts of calcium for a long period of time suffer renal damage and gout.

So you see, what one birds needs (the laying hen) the juvenile doesn't need. One expels a ton of calcium in the shells by egg laying, while the other has capacity to process the calcium load.

Yup, Grower for everyone!!! LOL

 

[Studio2770]

Thanks! The little ones ha e tasted layer. The big ones irritate me because they think they own the place and snack on the chick food. The kennel and run smell a bit.

So I want them to be together. So I hope we can get everyone on grower again and together and then wayy down the line they'll be on layer.