Feed question?

[kevintoy85]

We have 14 chicks that are now 8 weeks old can I move them to laying pellets or do I realy need to use the finisher before switching them over?
I would like to put them in the house with the other chickens that are a little over a year old and laying now? can mix the feed and wouldit mess up the Chickens that are laying?

 

[Hennyhandler]

You don't need to start giving them laying feed if they aren't laying. As to moving them over and getting them to have the same or seperate feed I was in the same situation when I was moving my little ones over. I think I would wait if possible till they are closer to laying age.

 

[teach1rusl]

I would not put them on laying feed until they are at least double their current age.

 

[pardenx3]

Keep them on starter/grower right now. No layer until at least 18-20 weeks old. Too much calcium for them right now.

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Get a broiler/flock raiser feed for the young ones, you can feed this to your flock as well, just provide Oystershell (or eggshells) free choice in seperate container so the layers get the added calcium they need.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
That's the easiest way and what I do too, but at 8 weeks old I think yours are really too young to try to integrate with the main flock. They'll probably get beat on pretty good, maybe even to the death. If your existing flock is small (like 1/2 the number of the babies) you could try at 10 weeks, but 14-16 weeks is better.

 

[tammyd57]

I would use flock raiser until at least 4 months of age and don't put them with the grown chickens until they are at least close to the same size. The adults will pick on them if they are a lot smaller.

 

[kevintoy85]

We have 8 hens and 1 Rooster they are Redsex links and Plymouth Rocks we just added 3 new chickens that were only a few months younger and they all do fine.
I was just hoping to get them out of the Garage sooner.
Thanks

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Move them over to grower if you can find it, or keep them on the starter or go to a general purpose poultry ration such as Flock Raiser (Purina). I wouldn't feed layer ration until you see the first egg.

.....Alan.