9 week olds eating Layer crumbles??

[cluckcluck42]

I have the big chick brooder set up in the chicken coop. It's set up so they can all see each other and get used to one another and it's worked wonders, they all get along perfectly besides the odd peck when the babies get out of line. I've opened the brooder enough for the chicks to get in and out as they please, they can go outside if they like when its free range time. The problem is a few of them are definitely eating the layers crumble I have for the big hens. Will this hurt the babies?? They have chick food available at all times in their own brooder which is not accesable by the big mommas.

Thanks

 

[easttxchick]

The 9 week olds shouldn't be eating the layer crumbles. They actually need to be on grower at 9 weeks and should not be eating layer until they start laying.

 

[PurpleChicken]

This has been a subject debated here hundreds of times. While some say layer feed can damage a nonlaying bird's kidneys with the extra calcium I have yet to hear a story of a bird dying from it. My birds have almost always switched over to layer completely by 9 weeks, even my young roos. If your birds are only getting some layer then it's definitely not a problem.


I keep 2 feeds on hand, a high protein broiler or game bird crumble and a layer pellet.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Oh crap, I completely should have switched them to grower already right? First time with babies, I did not even think of it. When should they be switched to grower???

 

[easttxchick]

At about 8 weeks. Don't worry, they'll be fine.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
So you use the broiler or game bird feed for babies from hatch day? Or just for grower?

Woops about this being debated a lot, I should have searched it first. Sorry!!

 

[PurpleChicken]

No worries on the search.

Everyone does things a little different. This is just what works for me.

I'll use gamebird crumbles for everyone, including chicks, quail, turkeys, and any birds I'm raising for meat. For chicks I grind it into a mash. If I have broiler feed from the co-op then I'll substitute broiler for gamebird since they are almost the same thing and broiler is much cheaper when I buy it in bulk. I do feed my day olds gamebird or broiler unless I feel the need to use a medicated chick starter (depends in the season with medicated since Cocci loves the damp weather and mud)

My layer flock (actually my old layer flock since I only have 4 right now) get layer pellets. By the time my standard layers or roos hit eight weeks they get introduced into my layer flock and eat layer pellets.

Grower isn't even sold in most feed stores up here. Some people have never even heard of it.

Now if you have just one flock then the "by the book" way is to feed medicated starter up to 6 or 8 weeks, switch to grower up to around 14 weeks, and then to layer.

 

[faykokoWV]

I use flock raiser and suplement calcium with oyster shell and greens.

 

[Dora'smom]

I use medicated chick starter, and then transition to layer at about 15 weeks or so.

 

[pardenx3]

All of ours have started on layer at about 7 or 8 weeks and they are all fine. I wouldn't worry about it. They will be fine.