Hi,
I have only ever had layers before, so this is my first time with mixed age birds. I have a 1 1/2 year old Silkie hen, currently broody with 5 eggs under her, due to hatch next week (I hope) and 4 young pullets with ages ranging from 12-14 weeks. When I got them, they were 4, 5 and 6 weeks old so I bought a bag of chick starter crumbles and put that food in a bowl under the suspended layer feed container, which is whole and cracked grains. I figured my adult Silkie would eat her regular food because it is way more exciting than crumbs. She did. Gradually the babies have become tall enough to reach the adult feeder and can fly well enough to help themselves to the layer feed, so they eat both now. There is also a separate oyster shell container. They get grass or another veggie treat in the evenings.
But the chick starter is medicated, and I didn't realize they sold me medicated until it was to late and I already opened it.
My questions are:
What do I do about the new chicks when they hatch? Continue with the chick starter for them and let the others eat what they want as they currently do? I figure when this bag of feed is gone, I'll buy grower or just let everyone eat the layer feed. But which is better for the chickens? Should I go straight to layer only and skip the grower?
Also, if the pullets start laying, should I throw away the eggs since they may have eaten medicated food?
I don't want to waste food, but I also noticed these young pullets always have runny brown poos, and my old hens did not have that at all. Their poos were formed with the white in the center. Is that from the medicated feed or an imbalance of nutrients? The poo is sticking to the feathers on the Mille Fleur Belgian D'Uccle's tails and legs. Due to this, I have decided to switch their bedding to something other than sand, probably a shredded paper or shavings.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have only ever had layers before, so this is my first time with mixed age birds. I have a 1 1/2 year old Silkie hen, currently broody with 5 eggs under her, due to hatch next week (I hope) and 4 young pullets with ages ranging from 12-14 weeks. When I got them, they were 4, 5 and 6 weeks old so I bought a bag of chick starter crumbles and put that food in a bowl under the suspended layer feed container, which is whole and cracked grains. I figured my adult Silkie would eat her regular food because it is way more exciting than crumbs. She did. Gradually the babies have become tall enough to reach the adult feeder and can fly well enough to help themselves to the layer feed, so they eat both now. There is also a separate oyster shell container. They get grass or another veggie treat in the evenings.
But the chick starter is medicated, and I didn't realize they sold me medicated until it was to late and I already opened it.
My questions are:
What do I do about the new chicks when they hatch? Continue with the chick starter for them and let the others eat what they want as they currently do? I figure when this bag of feed is gone, I'll buy grower or just let everyone eat the layer feed. But which is better for the chickens? Should I go straight to layer only and skip the grower?
Also, if the pullets start laying, should I throw away the eggs since they may have eaten medicated food?
I don't want to waste food, but I also noticed these young pullets always have runny brown poos, and my old hens did not have that at all. Their poos were formed with the white in the center. Is that from the medicated feed or an imbalance of nutrients? The poo is sticking to the feathers on the Mille Fleur Belgian D'Uccle's tails and legs. Due to this, I have decided to switch their bedding to something other than sand, probably a shredded paper or shavings.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
