Can 6-week old Buff Orpingtons eat some Layer Mash?

[Kevin75]

We recently integrated our 24 growing 6 week old Buffs in with our other 5 free-ranging Red Stars and White Leghorns. The transition has gone amazingly well and they all love pecking around the yard with minimal pecking at each other. My question is how to keep the "babies" from eating the adult layer food. They have their own "accessible only to them" area to escape any pecking with their own food and water but they seem to just eat from the adult bird's food during the day when they are free-ranging.

My question is this, is this a problem? Should I be making efforts to raise the adult feeder so they can't eat from it or is it not a big deal as long as it's not the main part of their diet. Our plan is to butcher half of them and keep the nicest and most affectionate dozen for eggs.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[dieselgrl48]

Dont give layer feed's to young birds that are not laying egg's.It can cause internal bleeding in the tummie's.

 

[BJnMe]

I would have to disagree, We have always fed laying mash to our chicks. I have 10 3 week olds right now, doing fine on layer.

 

[bock]

CHEEZ! Layer feed is TERRIBLE for them. They might even die from it!

 

[Kittymomma]

Layer isn't good for them. It has too much calcium and can cause kidney damage though it won't show up for awhile. I get around the whole keeping group A out of group B's food by putting the whole flock on gamebird or flockraiser and putting oyster shell out free choice so the layers can meet their calcium needs. It cost a little more then layer and a little less then starter/grower, I figure it all works out close to even and is one less headache for me.

 

[Kevin75]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking about trying Flock Raiser next time I needed to buy anyway since Buffs are a heavy breed. I have oyster shell out free choice already but the girls don't seem to notice it much now that they have the great outdoors to explore. If I took them off layer mash it won't affect their egg shells or production?

I'll probably try to raise the feed a few chain links until I get some flock raiser. The babies have to stretch quite a bit to reach even now.

Other input on the Flock Raiser idea would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Kittymomma]

If you switch from layer to flock raiser you'll probably notice that they'll eat more of the oyster shell. The chooks seem to know when they need more calcium and won't eat the oyster shell unless they do. As long as you keep the oyster shell available you shouldn't have any additional problems with thin/soft shelled eggs.

 

[bock]

Quote:
I feed flock raiser to my 4 week old ducks and geese and they are doing great!