8 weekers + young laying hens -- what to feed?

[cbliz]

hey there,
i'm new to the board, and have poked around some, but didn't see the answer to this question. hope it's not a repeat!

we have 3 8-week old chicks, eating starter feed (we leave it out all day and they seem to be doing great)
we are also getting two young chickens today that have just started laying recently. i think they are about a year old...

so i'm wondering what we should be feeding them, since they'll all be in the coop together. we plan to let them free range once they are used to us a little more

and they have an outside run that they have access to all day, so they're getting plenty of grass and bugs and such.

thanks in advance!

 

[MsPony]

Everyones fine on chick food, but suspend a dish just above chicks head with calcium in it. You can try just on the ground, the chicks shouldn't want it (no need, thank goodness for intelligent cravings!)

I use 2:1 (calcium product) by Dynamite Marketing, fab product

They get Zoo Formula daily as well, the chicks start out with finch servings and are in between parrot and cockatiel right now.

 

[Judy]

It's discussed here regularly -- not sure what you'd search for, though. Basically, feed everyone the same, not a layer feed, and offer egg shell separately. The babies will eat very little if any of the eggshell. I have this situation at present; I feed either grower or flock raiser, depending on what store I'm in. I'm probably not going back to layer as I feel this is better for the roos, and everyone gets a little more protein. Even the 2 week olds are eating flock raiser.

 

[rickochet]

Cbliz,
You brought to mind an interesting point. When my friend picked up my six Cinnamon Queens at six weeks old(now eight) I was disappointed that it would be awhile before they were able to lay and was going to puchase some that were already laying. I was advised against it ,as they said the older ones would kill the younger ones if in the same pen.Noticing that a moderator replied to your post and did not mention this makes me wonder if i was given wrong info? By the way , I'm new to this.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Mine stay on a starter/grower feed til they are at point of lay.

Older hens will pick and starve out young pullets unless they are around the same size. When I introduce new pullets to the henhouse there is plenty of room for the young girls to get away from being bullied, two feeder and two waters so I know the older girls will not try to starve the pullets out.

 

[MsPony]

When the older hens are in the coop at night in zombie state, stick the chicks in their as well. They will wake up, blink, and go on with their day. You can also stick them under a broody hen.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Integration is a different topic, so I'll not go there.


Yes, you can feed ALL you flock anything besides Layer. Little ones should not have it.

Chick, Chick Grower, Grower, Flock anything. Just offer the hens extra calcium by way of shells. Usually, usually the pullets will ignore it.

 

[cbliz]

thanks, you guys!
that is exactly what i wanted to know.

as far as bringing the new hens into the flock, i know that's another topic altogether.... i've read some horror stories in the forums, but i've also been told that after a day or two of squabbling, they'll be fine. i'm hoping for an easy transition!