? about feeding chicks in the run.

[Rocky Top Chick]

I have 6 chicks who are about 7 weeks old and they have been out in the coop isloated for a couple of weeks. We also have them their own pop door and run, however, it is contained inside the big girls pen. Anyway, we have been letting a big girl in with the babies one at a time and checking out how they behave. So far, so good. Now when we can fully incorporate both flocks together how in the world can we make sure the babies eat the right food and the big girls eat theirs? Any suggestions. What will happen if the babies eat layer feed and the big girls eat the medicated grower food? Any ideas?

 

[Imp]

Quote:
I would wait till the chicks are close to the same size as the adults before putting together. If you cannot wait watch them closely.
It won't hurt the birds to eat each others food a little bit, but if the chicks get a steady diet of layer it could possibly damage their kidneys from excess calcium. A couple options are raising the layer food up higher so the chicks cannot reach it; or feed them all flock raiser and provide oyster shell seperately for the hens.

Imp

 

[Warthog]

When I put my young ones in with the older girls, I put them all onto grower feed, and put all the crushed eggshells in the for the older girls, the young ones never seemed to take any of the eggshells.

It didn't affect the laying of the older ones, and everything worked out just fine.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Build a "fence " or "cage" around the chicks feed with wire that has openings large enough for them to fit through, but too small for the grown birds.

Small chicks can fit through 2 X 4, and larger through 4 x 4