Chicks keep eating the layer food

[NicInNC]

I have two game banties that we are still unsure of their age. We're guessing that they're over 6 weeks old though because they're fully feathered and have been for quite some time.

They are now outside in the coop and run. While they do eat their chick starter, I often see them eating the layer crumbles that I have out there for my other girls. Will that hurt them? Oh, and I find my older girls eating the chick starter.

One last question...

What do I feed the rooster when he gets older?

 

[gumpsgirl]

So you are keeping them in with the layers? Whoa! My layers would have picked those poor chicks to death! For that reason, nobody under the age of 18 wks. goes in with the layers, so I've never had that problem. It isn't good for them to eat the layer food though. It has to much calcium in it. Do you have another place you could keep them while they grow out?

 

[NicInNC]

My only ones laying are my two oegb's that are not even a year old yet. They LOVE the new chicks. The other chickens in the coop are 4 months old and 2 months old. They all are getting along very well.

So what should I do about the food situation? Do I really need to separate the ones that are still on chick starter?

Also, it's complicated because of the fact that we don't know their age. I've had Chee-Chee since March 7th and when we got her, I was told that she was 3 weeks old. She and the other one look to be the exact same age.

 

[crooked stripe]

In my situation everyone seemed to love the medicated starter. I had layer pellets available at all times in the coop but only the starter disappeared. No one seemed to suffer and no thin shells. I am sure there are people who will seperate all their different ages of chickens but I don't have the space. I also think no matter what the birds eat there is enough protien in the feed that all will survive in good health for a few months until all are eating the right feed.

 

[AHappychick]

maybe you could put the layer wher only the oegb's can get it, all the others should still be eating starter or grower until they start to lay

 

[gumpsgirl]

That's great that they all get along so well!

My only other suggestion would be to offer them all the chick starter with oyster shell on the side (separate) for the layers. That should work out okay.

 

[NicInNC]

Phew! I was scared that I was doing something really bad!

They didn't get along well at all when it was just the one chick, but I got another from the same breeder and now, the older ones leave them alone. There was a bit of pecking in the beginning, but that has subsided. Plus, my 4 month old Polish has become a wonderful Mommy figure. It's adorable how she protects them. I went to check on them last night and she had one on each side of her. I love that bird to death!

As for oyster shell, I always have that available to them. I have the layer feed in a hanging feeder. I'm going to make it a bit higher and see if that will prevent the chicks from being able to reach it. The starter crumbles are in a feeder on a low platform in the corner of the run. The oyster shell is in a small dog bowl in a different corner.