I'm wanting to introduce my "chicks" and my adult hens (all bantams and silkies (bantams)) when the chicks are 12 weeks old. I currently have the chicks on grower feed. When I place all of the chickens in the same coop, I'll really have no way to keep the chicks from eating the adult hen's layer feed.
Is this a problem? Is there a minimum age where the chicks can start eating layer feed? Also, it is a problem for the adult hens (that are laying eggs) to eat the chicks' grower feed?
One of my adult hens (which has since passed...attacked by a hawk
) started laying eggs at 18 weeks. So, it wasn't an issue that I started my hens on layer feed at 16 weeks.
At night, when I separate the chickens back into their pens (chicks in one pen and adult hens in another), they'll each have the proper feed. But you figure that during the day, they'll eat each other's food.
Is this a problem? Is there a minimum age where the chicks can start eating layer feed? Also, it is a problem for the adult hens (that are laying eggs) to eat the chicks' grower feed?
One of my adult hens (which has since passed...attacked by a hawk
At night, when I separate the chickens back into their pens (chicks in one pen and adult hens in another), they'll each have the proper feed. But you figure that during the day, they'll eat each other's food.
