chick starter and pellets??

[Kathy1]

I have 2RIR's that eat layer pellets, free range in the yard and fresh fruits and veggies that I give daily.

I have 7 chicks comming the end of April. I know they will have medicated chick feed, what happens if they eat a few layer pellets ??or if the older girl get a bit of the med. chick starter?

They will have seperate housing for the first 3-4 weeks till they get a bit bigger,I had hoped then to get them in 1 coop as soon as I can.

How do I handle the feed? I know it is not good for the chicks to eat layer pellets till they are ready to lay.

And can they free range together from age 2 weeks on? It will be supervised of course

 

[ScoobyRoo]

I have been searching for an answer myself. I have 20 layers, 51 chicks and 3 ducklings and I want to supply them all with one feed. Not having much luck. I am finding out though, that if the hens get to free range a lot (mine do) they don't need layer feed. As far as the chickies and duckies go, all that is available here is medicated feed (no plain grower)and the duckies cant have that. I bought an all purpose feed but then again it has too much calcium for the chicks.

So, right now I'm feeding layer and all purpose together since all my chicks and hens are together. When I run out of layers, I may not buy anymore unless it is cheaper than all purpose. Sorry to write a story for a simple question (I thought).

 

[gritsar]

As I just mentioned on another thread, Purina makes a product called flock raiser. You could feed that and supplement the laying hen's diet with oyster shell.

I had my chicks outside running around in the yard at 2 weeks old, on non-windy sunny days. It was always with constant supervision. Then less and less supervision as they got older.

 

[spook]

Yep, for some reason I had a coughing hen last year and it was apparently the chick starter she was thieving!

Giving chicks, as well as feeding bantams pellets, its tough for them to get down unless they search for the right size.
If going to feed them equal, like gritsar mentioned, use chips or crumbles. That way you will not have as much waste as mash nor will you have choking on pellets.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
I'll see if Family Center near me sells purina product in flock raiser. I think that is the answer I have been looking for. Just need to find it. Will the all purpose harm the little chicks? This brand is 16% and calcium it says "Min. 1.5% Max. 2.0%. ????
Thanks gritsar for your help.

 

[Kathy1]

Well.... will flock starter work for me? Or was that reply for Henry??

Is it ok if the big girls snack on some of the med chick starter??I am pretty sure I can keep the little ones away from the layer pellets but the big girls no.

Are crumbles for chicks andd hens?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
Kathy, I think both of us apply to that suggestion. My hens eat layer crumbles now. I have read a lot of posts saying their chickens prefer crumbles over pellets. Mash will fly away, pellets can be too big and crumbles are broken up pellets. If you have free ranging chickens (hens) I'm finding out that they can do without layers as long as oyster shells are available all the time. I have several bags of layers left and I will mix in the flock raiser (till I run out) for the chicks and ducks. Some one correct me if I'm wrong on this.

 

[arlosmine]

To keep the hens out of the chick starter, all you have to do is make a "creep-feed". This a an area that the hens cannot get into because the openings are to small for them. You can use any kind of cage/crate/box that the chicks can see into- than modify the doorway(s) with cardboard, wire, wood-whatever, so that they are "chick-sized".

Horse people do this for foals with mares who have low milk production. I did it to keep goats out ouf the chicken feed, and I will be doing it with all my chicks who are ready to go out on the big-girl coop.

Hope that helps!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yes Kathy, I believe flock raiser may be a solution for you as well.

 

[Kathy1]

Thanks for the info. A creep feed sounds like a good idea..also reminds me of my BIL's gf

LOL But I think that might work for me.

I also saw that most people hang their feeders. I have one that sits on the ground, I think I will try the hanging of the feed for the taller girls and the creep feed for the small babies. I think I will try that flock feed in crumbles They tend to waste alot of the pellets. But love the little pieces.

Thanks for all the help!