feed 10 wk old hens layer feed?

[OHhappychicks]

Can I feed my 10 wk old hens layer mash? I had to move them in with my older hens to get them away from the 9 roosters. I didn't think about the feed. They have been eating medicated starter

. Just need to know if they can handle layer mash. Thanks!

 

[Sportsterjeep]

Yes, they should do fine on it.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thank you!

 

[speckledhen]

It's very early to feed layer feed to those chicks. Way too much calcium!! Get an all purpose chicken feed like Flock Raiser and put an oyster shell feeder in there with the hens until the chicks get past 17 weeks old.

 

[OHhappychicks]

thank you speckeledhen!

If I can get rid of my roosters this weekend, I will put them back in the other pen with their normal feed.

 

[speckledhen]

Sounds like a plan. It won't kill them to get some of the layers feed for a day or two, but long term, it's definitely not the best thing for them to be eating at ten weeks old.