Are these "chicks" big enough to eat layers pellets with all my other hens?

[Thebossbaby]

I have four of these birds, can I feed them layers pellets and add them to the rest of the flock? I don't know how old they are but I know ur not suppose to feed chicks layers pellets but I think they are big enough, any information for me?

 

[kitkat5505]

That one does not look old enough for layer feed. I'd guess maybe around 3 months? They should be at least 18 weeks, or when they start laying. You can put the whole flock on a flock raiser feed and then provide oyster shell separate for the layers.

 

[Farmgirl47]

I usually start feeding my (many) batches of chicks layer feed when they are, at the latest, two months old. All have been fine so far and aren't emaciated.

The one in the picture looks to be about 3 months old, but I am not totally sure.

 

[Farmgirl47]

But so saying, we feed a different type of chicken feed than people usually do, it is not that pelleted kind you get at the feed store.

 

[Thebossbaby]

So your saying I can feed them layers pellets and they should be fine?

 

[Thebossbaby]

I feed layers pellets to chicks once since they were 5 weeks old and they never laid and instead died at like 7 months, but it was from a cyote, what effects can feeding them layers pellets have? Can it affect there laying?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

So your saying I can feed them layers pellets and they should be fine?

That friends in your definition of fine. Excessive calcium prior to 18 weeks/ onset of production can cause damage. The damage is not noted externally or immediately - it is more an issue of causing long term health problems and shortened life span. If that is seen acceptable risk then yes.... if not simple solution is feed all birds, including your older layers, a ration appropriate for the younger birds and provide calcium separately for the laying birds to regulate themselves

 

[Farmgirl47]

So your saying I can feed them layers pellets and they should be fine?

I do think they would be fine.
The youngest a chick has been when they started eating layers pellets was 1-2 weeks old. Because when used to buy it (layers pellets at the store) our little broody hens' chicks would eat it with their mamas, and that was practically all they ate besides bugs and the like.

As far as I know it didn't effect my chickens' laying (or anything else) when I fed it to them at such a young age.

I feed layers pellets to chicks once since they were 5 weeks old and they never laid and instead died at like 7 months, but it was from a cyote, what effects can feeding them layers pellets have? Can it affect there laying?

What breeds were those chickens? Not all breeds lay at 4-5 months. I've had some that didn't until they were closer to a year old.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

FWIW, not being emaciated is not indicative of not being effected by the calcium overload.... though most layer is lower in protein than recommended for birds at the age seen which can retard growth and development

 

[kitkat5505]

The extra minerals and calcium in layer feed can damage their kidneys when fed too early.