A mixture of ages

[breezeflock]

I have a main flock of 9 hens and two Cockerels that live in a converted stable with access to a covered safe enclosure and then daily access to an acre field. All chickens in here are above 18 weeks old. I have 6 growers who are in a seperate coop and run in my garden However I want them to start getting used to each other so was going to put the coop and run into the chicken field. My plan was to integrate the 6 growers (currently 10 weeks old) into the main stable with the big flock in a few weeks time. But they will still be eating growers pellets whilst the others are on a mix of layers and corn. Is there anyway to integrate them whilst they are eating seperate food or can I put the whole flock back onto growers for the intermittent weeks until the growers are 18 weeks old?

 

[The Happster]

I have a main flock of 9 hens and two Cockerels that live in a converted stable with access to a covered safe enclosure and then daily access to an acre field. All chickens in here are above 18 weeks old. I have 6 growers who are in a seperate coop and run in my garden However I want them to start getting used to each other so was going to put the coop and run into the chicken field. My plan was to integrate the 6 growers (currently 10 weeks old) into the main stable with the big flock in a few weeks time. But they will still be eating growers pellets whilst the others are on a mix of layers and corn. Is there anyway to integrate them whilst they are eating seperate food or can I put the whole flock back onto growers for the intermittent weeks until the growers are 18 weeks old?

Yes. You can put them all onto growers until the others begin laying. Or dispense with the layers altogether and just keep them on it after they begin laying too.
Supplement Oyster shell for the layers - I feed their egg shells back to them - and you'll be fine.

 

[breezeflock]

Yes. You can put them all onto growers until the others begin laying. Or dispense with the layers altogether and just keep them on it after they begin laying too.
Supplement Oyster shell for the layers - I feed their egg shells back to them - and you'll be fine.

Thank you so much

 

[DobieLover]

I have a main flock of 9 hens and two Cockerels that live in a converted stable with access to a covered safe enclosure and then daily access to an acre field. All chickens in here are above 18 weeks old. I have 6 growers who are in a seperate coop and run in my garden However I want them to start getting used to each other so was going to put the coop and run into the chicken field. My plan was to integrate the 6 growers (currently 10 weeks old) into the main stable with the big flock in a few weeks time. But they will still be eating growers pellets whilst the others are on a mix of layers and corn. Is there anyway to integrate them whilst they are eating seperate food or can I put the whole flock back onto growers for the intermittent weeks until the growers are 18 weeks old?

This is one of the many reasons to switch your flock over to Flock Raiser, All Flock or even a good Starter feed with multiple containers of oyster shell on the side for the ACTIVE layers. The active layers are the ONLY birds in the flock that should be getting all that extra calcium. Chicks, non-laying pullets, roosters/cockerels, molting and broody hens all do not need that calcium. There will be many times when you have combinations of birds like this in your flock.

Additionally, most layer feeds only offer the bare minimum of 16% protein. Birds are healthier with the higher concentration of protein that is found in the all flock type feeds.
I read that you provide a mix of layer and corn. The added corn will further dilute the protein content of an already sub-optimal protein level in your feed. I strongly recommend you stop feeding the corn all together or just toss them no more than one handful a day as a treat.

 

[BDutch]

You already got great advice on food.
If you attach the chick-coop to the other run you create ‘more’ space.
If its possible I would make the opening to the chick-coop so small that only the 10week old chicks can get in. So this will be a safe haven for them to get away from bully's and don’t get stressed.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Yeah, I would put all on the grower feed when you integrate, with a container of Oyster Shells till the youngsters are 18 weeks. GC

 

[BDutch]

Yeah, I would put all on the grower feed when you integrate, with a container of Oyster Shells till the youngsters are 18 weeks. GC

Layer feed is not good for cockerels / roosters because it has too much calcium for them. With a mixed flock (layers and not layers) the all flock with grit/crushed shells on the side is better.

Too much calcium can cause kidney problems on the long term.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Layer feed is not good for cockerels / roosters

Google (Roosters and layer feed).
You'll find differing opinions.
From what I've read if you don't feed a Layers feed before a Rooster is 18 weeks old, it's Ok.
Of course if he's in a bachelor flock feed him a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower.
Most Roosters die protecting a free range Flock or in battle, before they would succumb to kidney failure because they were predisposed.
That said I feed my Flock a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower and I don't have any Cockerels/Roosters and never had.
If I had a Rooster he would get the same feed as my hens, even if it was layers feed.
So that's why I replied the way I did.
He mixes corn with feed, that's his/her choice.
Some feeds encourage mixing.

GC