Chicks eating layer feed

[Mattsiewrt19]

Hello I've heard that chicks eating layer feed is bad for them but I'm not sure of the age of my chickens but I have pictures they est them with no problem but my the chick starter I had all got ruined an so I had layer feed so I thought I'd just get them started on it. Now I think they have been eating it for about 3 weeks or so. So if I'm killing my chickens slowly please tell me and I'll stop it tpday. They do not show no problems to me they go all thru the yard foraging playing and what not. These are them I'm pretty sure there about 10 weeks or could be a little younger I don't know but if anyone could help me out it'd be appreciated I just don't want the calcium to kill them or something.

 

[SilkieNation]

It may be better to get them some chick starter. You wouldn't see your chicks dying off from the layer, but the calcium is bad for their kidneys, and maybe more (no expert here) and so it would be a longer term negative effect. Also, the protein content is less in layer feed and the chicks are growing and need the higher level. I think you may not be doing them any favors by continuing to feed them layer.

 

[pdirt]

X2 what SilkieNation said.

You could also just get a bag of grower and feed that to them for the rest of their lives. Put an always full dish on the side filled with crushed oyster shell. They will get complete nutrition from the grower and will know when to eat the shells for calcium needs. I never feed layer feed and many people don't either.

 

[redsix]

The guy at the feed store told me today that I should keep my chickens on starter and grower until they are old enough to lay (21 weeks).

 

[yotricia02]

OMG I'm glad I got on here today and saw this! I have been feeding my 4 laying hens and 5 6-8 week old babies laying scratch feed. I guess i'll run to the store tomorrow to switch to a different kind.

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

agreed,, if you have younger birds,, or mixed age flocks with younger ones under 18 weeks ( i use 18 weeks as a MINIMUM, because some birds mature much faster than others,, Fayoumis are considered mature around 16 weeks in fact, while cohicns are well and above 24 weeks),, it is better to switch to a grower ration,, there is not a whole lot of difference so your layers won't be affected by the temporary switch until the young ones are old enough to eat the layer,, the other way around though,, the excess calcium in layer ration can seriously damage your younger birds