9 weeks old eating layer and year olds eating starter feed?

[lori925]

Our girls are free-ranging. The year olds have full run of about 5 acres. The nine week olds have full run of a fenced in corral, although they started escaping out of their fenced area just this week.

I have read that the little girls need to continue with the starter feed until they begin laying. Since they have learned how to escape, they have decided that they want to eat the big girls layer feed.

My questions have to do with feed:
1) Is it correct that the little girls need to eat the starter feed until they begin to lay?
2) I have heard that the big girls can eat the started feed but we should give extra calcium - is that correct?

Thank you in advance.
Lori

 

[Kelsie2290]

Ya, you don't want young birds eating Layer because of the high calcium levels. Most people with mixed age flocks feed either an All Ages / Flock Raiser or Starter type food and have oyster shell available on the side for the layers.

 

[aart]

Ya, you don't want young birds eating Layer because of the high calcium levels. Most people with mixed age flocks feed either an All Ages / Flock Raiser or Starter type food and have oyster shell available on the side for the layers.

Ditto...makes thing much simpler!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Ya, you don't want young birds eating Layer because of the high calcium levels. Most people with mixed age flocks feed either an All Ages / Flock Raiser or Starter type food and have oyster shell available on the side for the layers.

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