Conflicting opinions on feeding integrated flock

[pattgal]

I went to the feed store today to pick up my new ready to lay red hens. The lady told me I could not feed them layer pellets yet because it would force them to lay too quick and it would hurt them
I asked her what I was supposed to do since my chicks from my original flock are being raised within the flock. right now those chicks are on starter but then it's pellets or maybe I will mix in some grower with the pellets, but she really insisted they should not be raised together and fed separate feed. that just does not sound right to me. Aren't you supposed to give them pellets a month before they lay to make sure the shell is good and hard enough
I caved and bought the grower with oyster shells on the side. I really don't believe you can't raise them together but will the layer pellets really hurt them? Really?

 

[KellyHM]

Layer pellets will be fine as long as they're mostly grown. Heck, my free rangers raise babies out in the pasture and all they have access to is layer pellets and forage.

 

[schellie69]

I usually feed mine a good flock raiser or game bird feed, with crushed egg shells free choice. I do this since one they free range and 2 they were a mixed flock. The feed store stopped selling the flock raiser so I went to the fame bird feed they where out the last time so I went with layer pellets. Since right now all of mine are laying. Once my babies join the flock I will go back to flock raiser that way I don't worry about the younger ones getting to much calcium. I think it is just easier to feed one feed to all of them instead of different ones since they will all eat the food that you don't want them to.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
well yeah as soon as I put in the chick feed, even if its just in a little dish out of the way, all the hens will pig out in it. It's probably just a new flavor they are not used to getting
I don't think my store sells flock raiser. but if I mix the grower and pellets together is that ok?

 

[pattgal]

the chicks that my broody hatched in December went straight from starter to pellets...would that hurt them? affect their growth in any way??

 

[fishin-nole]

What about birds that are close to wanting to lay? Mine are 4 months old and a couple of the hens are starting to hang out in the nest boxes. No eggs yet. Should I change them to grower pellets or keep them on chick starter till they start to lay and change to layer pellets?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hens can eat chick starter (non medicated), but chicks should not eat layer pellets until Point of Lay. It is far too rich in calcium and other minerals is simply not recommended for chicks.

All of them can eat Flock or Grower.

However, you'll have to provide a calcium source for your hens, or the eggs may grow thin. Calcium can derived from pasture grasses of good quality as well as re-cycled eggs shells. Of course, buying oyster shells is always an option.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
Either is fine. Once laying commences, switch to layer.

 

[Mervin]

I don't feed layer at all. Mine get broiler mash with free choice shells every week or so. The ladies seem to take what the need.

 

[schellie69]

Quote:
well yeah as soon as I put in the chick feed, even if its just in a little dish out of the way, all the hens will pig out in it. It's probably just a new flavor they are not used to getting
I don't think my store sells flock raiser. but if I mix the grower and pellets together is that ok?

I would look for a non-medicated grower/finisher and offer either dried crushed egg shells or oyster shells for the layers. When I let my broody hatch out a chick I just feed the game bird feed it has 22% protein since they free range my egg production dropped after doing a search on here figured out they where not getting enough protein so I use a higher protein diet for mine. It works great that way when I do add new chicks I don't worry they are eating the wrong feed. I would mix the grower and pellets together should cut the calcium down some. Good luck.