Feeding a multi-generational flock

[Frieda]

Hi chicken people,
I recently lost a 6 week old chick to what I think was a feeding mistake. So, I just thought I'd put it out there what we did wrong & what we are doing now, in case anyone is having the same dilema, or has any advice.
We had 4 adults & 3 6 week old chicks, all of whom were free ranging together & therefore eating the same food.
The feed store guy, who I'm sure meant well, but should not be treated like a vet (really, how dumb am I?), said it would be fine to feed them all the adult layer feed.
Well, Oona, the only chick I had named (of course), went lame & then died. I have since learned from the kind folks on this forum, that one should NEVER feed a chick adult food because the amount of calcium can damage their internal organs & kill them.
So, now we are feeding them all Organic Chick Starter (unmedicated) & putting apple cider vinegar in the water to ward off parasites. I also give them yogurt as treat. They all seem happy & healthy so far.
Anyway, thank you to the people here who helped me out & I hope I'm doing the right thing now.
Cheeps, Frieda

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I honestly don't know about the chick starter for the adults, but I'll tell you what I'm doing...

I did keep my youngsters seperate until about 12 weeks of age, at about 10 weeks, I started mixing in flock raiser for the chicks, to get them switched over. And now that they are in with my big girls, they all get flock raiser, with a LITTLE bit of the layer pellets mixed in, and I offer oyster shell...the chicks don't eat it...not saying they WON'T, but mine don't and I had read that part before...I will have them all on layer feed in about 6 more weeks.