Chickens aren’t eating chicken feed

[GlicksChicks]

I have this bedding that I used when my sun conure was a chick. Says it’s corn based. I wonder if this could work for now.

That bedding loojs pretty small and easily consumed.

How long are the chicks supposed to be on chick feed?

Until pullets lay their first egg.

Do you guys know the type of breed these chickens are? Just curious.

The light one looks like a Buff Orpington. The dark one could be a Rhode Island Red or some sort of Golden Sexlink.

Also, when will these chicks be considered adults? I think they are currently about 2 months old.

They are usually considered an adult around 1 year old, after they have their first molt.

 

[NatJ]

I have this bedding that I used when my sun conure was a chick. Says it’s corn based. I wonder if this could work for now.

I would expect it to be fine under perches where the chicks sleep at night. I'm not sure about walking on it all day (not saying good or bad, just that I do not know.)

How long are the chicks supposed to be on chick feed?

They can safely eat chick feed during their entire lives. Or the female can switch to layer feed around the time she starts laying eggs. Layer is not a good choice for males of any age (it won't kill him to eat it for a bit, because the effects build up over time, but eating it long-term is not the best choice if you want him to live a long healthy life.)

When the female starts to lay eggs, she will need more calcium than what chick starter has. You can switch her to layer feed at that time. Or you can just provide calcium separately. The most common thing is a dish of oyster shell, always available. Most chickens will eat the right amount to meet their own needs (roosters and chicks mostly ignoring it, hens eating it as needed.) Or shells from chicken eggs can be used for the extra calcium, but it is usually hard to get enough of those. A hen would need the shells from about 2 or 3 eggs each day to give her enough calcium. So if the family eats a lot of purchased eggs, there might easily be enough eggshells for one hen. If the shells are always available in a dish, that means there are enough. If the hen eats them all up and runs out, that was probably not enough.

Also, when will these chicks be considered adults? I think they are currently about 2 months old.

If you mean sexual maturity (she lays eggs, he crows and mates), often around 4 to 6 months old. Crowing might start earlier than that.

 

[TooCheep]

@Baruch - You've received a lot of help in 2 hours since your original post. That is why I encourage you to have your uncle join BYC. He can ask questions and get lots of (generally) good advice.

 

[MayBerg]

Also, when will these chicks be considered adults? I think they are currently about 2 months old.

Put closeup pictures of the chickens so we can tell the breed. The cockerel looks like a gold sexlink, golden comet, red star ...you know... the other looks like buff orpington. Put more pics.

Do a Google search for "feed store near me"
You'll find somewhere to buy chick feed. The pellet of the layer feed can be too big for them too.

 

[Baruch]

@Baruch - You've received a lot of help in 2 hours since your original post. That is why I encourage you to have your uncle join BYC. He can ask questions and get lots of (generally) good advice.

He won’t use the forum. He doesn’t care for the chickens. They just got it as pets for their kids. He has no interest in the chickens, and he will never join a forum.

I’m learning everything and I will pass the knowledge to them. I hope that’s OK. I’m trying my best here.

I already removed the bedding, I ordered the correct food and bedding. I learned about hens needing calcium rich food.

I learned that this enclosure is not big enough long term. They can easily build a chicken coop.

 

[NatJ]

The cockerel looks like a gold sexlink, golden comet, red star ...you know...

Absolutely not. I can state with 100% certainty that the red bird in the pictures is not a cockerel of Red Sexlink, Gold Sexlink, Gold Comet, ISA Brown, Red Star, or any of the similar kinds.

The whole point of those sexlinks is that the males are a different color than the females. The females are red, and the males are white. This is more obvious when they are young chicks, and both sexes usually have some of each color by the time they are grown up, but they NEVER have a male that is red with bits of black and no white at all.

A Rhode Island Red, or a New Hampshire, or a Production Red, would have males and females that are red with a bit of black in their tail. I think the male is probably one of those. They look enough alike that there is no way to be positive which one he is, considering the general quality of birds from most hatcheries (the fine points that distinguish show-quality Rhode Island Reds from show-quality New Hampshires are not reliably present in hatchery flocks.)

the other looks like buff orpington.

I agree that seems likely.

Put more pics.

Yes, that is always a good idea when trying to identify breeds, although these look fairly obvious to me.

The pellet of the layer feed can be too big for them too.

Those chicks are probably big enough to eat pellets by now. They shouldn't have layer feed, but the size of the pellets is not the reason.

 

[MayBerg]

Absolutely not. I can state with 100% certainty that the red bird in the pictures is not a cockerel of Red Sexlink, Gold Sexlink, Gold Comet, ISA Brown, Red Star, or any of the similar kinds.

The whole point of those sexlinks is that the males are a different color than the females. The females are red, and the males are white. This is more obvious when they are young chicks, and both sexes usually have some of each color by the time they are grown up, but they NEVER have a male that is red with bits of black and no white at all.

A Rhode Island Red, or a New Hampshire, or a Production Red, would have males and females that are red with a bit of black in their tail. I think the male is probably one of those. They look enough alike that there is no way to be positive which one he is, considering the general quality of birds from most hatcheries (the fine points that distinguish show-quality Rhode Island Reds from show-quality New Hampshires are not reliably present in hatchery flocks.)



I agree that seems likely.


Yes, that is always a good idea when trying to identify breeds, although these look fairly obvious to me.


Those chicks are probably big enough to eat pellets by now. They shouldn't have layer feed, but the size of the pellets is not the reason.

Thank you @NatJ. I completely forgot about the color part of sexlinkage. I am learning so much here.

I'll go with what you said. Is the coop size ok if the chickens only go in there to sleep and roam free outside land all day?

 

[TooCheep]

I learned about hens needing calcium rich food.

90% on that post. This definitely needs clarification. Actively laying hens need more calcium (~1% for most chicks/chickens vs ~4% for layers). 4% is not good or males and non-layers (like that young pullet). When you have a mixed flock like that, I'd recommend a chick feed initially and later an all-flock type feed. All-flock generally has a higher protein level (18-22%) with 1% calcium and then offer oyster shell or other calcium on the side. The layer will be interested in the calcium while the male will mostly ignore it.

Those chicks are probably big enough to eat pellets by now. They shouldn't have layer feed, but the size of the pellets is not the reason.

Probably. Crumbles are the "safe" choice as it can be eaten by adults as well.

 

[Baruch]

This is the food I got

 

[Anon112]

I want to start by saying that I know how stressful it can be when you start to feel responsible for pets belonging to other people, especially when you're seeing them make mistakes that could harm or kill the animals.

I wonder if you might give as a gift something like Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens or even like a "Raising Chickens for Dummies Book" for the kids. Maybe even send the kids a link or two to YouTube videos explaining chicken needs.

I think it's wonderful that you are doing your best to take great care of these young chickens and spending your time and money to follow up on what you are learning.