feed question

[realsis]

I have a small flock of four pullets. my oldest is 7 months and is laying regular. my second is close to six months not laying yet and my babies are 4 months. going to be 5 months end of this month. will layer feed hurt my babies or can I mix it into there feed? the feed I set out is grower then I make a mash twice a day of both feeds mixed together for everyone to eat. I'm hoping this won't hurt my babies. do you think it will be OK for them? problem is my older laying bird won't eat separately I've tried and I want her to get her calcium.I do offer her only oyster shells. but my question is will the layer feed mix harm the little ones? I hope not. what's your thoughts? when do you switch to layer?

 

[Keltara]

When my babies at 7 or 8 weeks were integrated with the big girls, they free ranged but the food that was offered was layer and nothing happened to them.

 

[Alaskan]

Supposedly the layer feed, because of the high calcium, puts deposits or higher stress on the internal organs of the chickens. From what I understand, it doesn't matter if the chicken is going to live only two years, but will shorten their life if they are your pets that you hope to have for many years.

Some people always feed grower to their chickens with the oyster shell on the side for the calcium.

If I had your set up, I would probably feed one bag of grower, keeping the oyster shell available in a bowl, and then after that bag of grower, go back to feeding layer. Then again, with your youngest already four months, they might be fine.

 

[donrae]

Do not feed your non laying birds layer feed. Feed everyone the grower or whatever and offer the oyster shell like you're doing.

They really don't need much calcium, especially as a new layer. Her body has plenty right now and she may not need the oyster shell at all. My older production hens hit love the oyster shell, the young hens not so much. They know what they need and will self regulate if it's available. The young birds just can't take the calcium OUT of the feed.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Your youngest are 16 weeks old & are old enough for layer if you choose. Grower would be fine for all also.

 

[ChiksNCharge]

I have a similar problem with a larger age gap between the hens. I have 3 hens who are just over a year old and I have been feeding them layer feed since they began laying last summer. This spring I got 3 new chicks who are currently 10 weeks old. I combined the flock about 2 weeks ago and everything is going fine - but feeding is a real problem. The youngsters are on grower feed and the adult chickens LOVE it. I have tried several different ways to make the grower feed available to the chicks in ways the the adult hens cannot access it - but those girls are smart and determined. I am considering the idea of putting them all on grower feed for awhile (always have oyster shell available in the coop). Is that a good thing to do???

 

[donrae]

I have a similar problem with a larger age gap between the hens. I have 3 hens who are just over a year old and I have been feeding them layer feed since they began laying last summer. This spring I got 3 new chicks who are currently 10 weeks old. I combined the flock about 2 weeks ago and everything is going fine - but feeding is a real problem. The youngsters are on grower feed and the adult chickens LOVE it. I have tried several different ways to make the grower feed available to the chicks in ways the the adult hens cannot access it - but those girls are smart and determined. I am considering the idea of putting them all on grower feed for awhile (always have oyster shell available in the coop). Is that a good thing to do???

Yes. That is exactly what you should do. It doesn't hurt the mature birds to eat grower but the layer can be harmful to the littles.