Can my 8 week olds eat layer food?

[LisaKS]

Hi everyone,
I’ve been reading all your posts and now I’m freaking out that my 2 of my 3 9-week-old Barred Rick chicks are going to die. I am, of course, giving them their chick starter grower food. But over the last month, when I let them out every day to play for an hour or two, they will eat my grown hen’s laying feed. For the last 3 days, two of them are acting very sick. They are lethargic, sleepy and not eating. I am devastated. I had no idea that allowing them to snack on the layer feed could kill them from liver or kidney damage. Again, this food is NOT in THEIR pen. They only have access to it for 1-2 hours a day. If I cut off all access to this feed, can I save them? Or is it too late??? What are the symptoms of liver or kidney damage? Please help!!

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Hi everyone,
I’ve been reading all your posts and now I’m freaking out that my 2 of my 3 9-week-old Barred Rick chicks are going to die. I am, of course, giving them their chick starter grower food. But over the last month, when I let them out every day to play for an hour or two, they will eat my grown hen’s laying feed. For the last 3 days, two of them are acting very sick. They are lethargic, sleepy and not eating. I am devastated. I had no idea that allowing them to snack on the layer feed could kill them from liver or kidney damage. Again, this food is NOT in THEIR pen. They only have access to it for 1-2 hours a day. If I cut off all access to this feed, can I save them? Or is it too late??? What are the symptoms of liver or kidney damage? Please help!!

Hmm...sounds like they gorged themselves and the calcium is making them sick.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Hi everyone,
I’ve been reading all your posts and now I’m freaking out that my 2 of my 3 9-week-old Barred Rick chicks are going to die. I am, of course, giving them their chick starter grower food. But over the last month, when I let them out every day to play for an hour or two, they will eat my grown hen’s laying feed. For the last 3 days, two of them are acting very sick. They are lethargic, sleepy and not eating. I am devastated. I had no idea that allowing them to snack on the layer feed could kill them from liver or kidney damage. Again, this food is NOT in THEIR pen. They only have access to it for 1-2 hours a day. If I cut off all access to this feed, can I save them? Or is it too late??? What are the symptoms of liver or kidney damage? Please help!!

First, cut off all access to the layer feed. Make sure they are getting chick food, preferably a starter/grower or grower at their age. Second, what does their poop look like? Is it bloody, watery, oddly colored, etc.? Those symptoms seems more along the lines of worms or a disease to me. What do their crops feel like? Snacking on layer feed won’t cause problems that fast. It seems like something else to me.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Hello, I have 5 8 week old chicks and since day one i have fed them layer food. They are 8 weeks old but they are not very big. I wondered if I need to provide more protein for them (sunflower seeds). Anyone know? Thank you!

I think you should always start your chicks out from day one on chick starter grower food. Don’t put them on layer feed until they start actually laying. There was a very good thread on this topic the other day. I will try to find it and then post it here shortly.

 

[LisaKS]

I think you should always start your chicks out from day one on chick starter grower food. Don’t put them on layer feed until they start actually laying. There was a very good thread on this topic the other day. I will try to find it and then post it here shortly.

 

[LisaKS]

I never started them on layer feed. I said that they have snacked on it over the last month. They’ve been fed starter/grower since day 1.

 

[LisaKS]

First, cut off all access to the layer feed. Make sure they are getting chick food, preferably a starter/grower or grower at their age. Second, what does their poop look like? Is it bloody, watery, oddly colored, etc.? Those symptoms seems more along the lines of worms or a disease to be. What do their crops feel like? Snacking on layer feed won’t cause problems that fast. It seems like something else to me.

 

[The Happster]

Just keep them of the layers from now on, and see how they do.

Roughly how much would you say they have eaten?
All you can do is wait and see.
And in the meantime, try and rule out any other illness.
Are their vents clean? What are their dropping like? Are their crops clearing every night?

 

[LisaKS]

Hi, yes, I cut off access to the layer feed today. Their crops were pretty empty today, due to their loss of appetite. I’ll have to check out their poop. The third chick is doing fine, by the way. Thank you.

 

[The Happster]

Try making a small amount of mash with some of the chick crumb. I find this sometimes persuades them to eat.
Not too much, in case they won't eat it.