Feeding babies and adults together

[Raptorsgocluck]

@rkapfen did you have oyster shell in a separate container for the layers?

I used to, but they are expensive and I keep costs as low as I can by using/recycling what I happen to have around or reusing what I can for different purposes. (The whole permaculture thing). But if I have to and am unable to find an alternative I will just go back to using oysters.

 

[paneubert]

I used to, but they are expensive and I keep costs as low as I can by using/recycling what I happen to have around or reusing what I can for different purposes. (The whole permaculture thing). But if I have to and am unable to find an alternative I will just go back to using oysters.

Talk to a feed mill or farm store. You should be able to get a 50 pound bag of calcium carbonate for pretty cheap. You don't need to be using literal oyster shells.

 

[Ebony Rose]

If an all-flock feed is not available in your area (not available where I live), you can feed everyone chick feed. It has higher protein, but be certain to get UNMEDICATED if you plan to feed it to everyone as the medicine (for coccidiosis) blocks the absorption of some vitamins (which is how it works). Serve oyster shell or other calcium supplement on the side, do not mix that with their feed. The birds that need the calcium will gladly munch on the supplement, those that don't, won't. Too much calcium in a non-laying chicken's feed can cause organ failure, but by some miracle the birds seem to know when and how much they need, and if they don't need it, they avoid it.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I used to, but they are expensive and I keep costs as low as I can by using/recycling what I happen to have around or reusing what I can for different purposes. (The whole permaculture thing). But if I have to and am unable to find an alternative I will just go back to using oysters.

You can boost their calcium intake with a number of alternatives; High on the list would be ground/crushed egg shells. Also on the list are things like seafood (sardines come to mind since they're cheap), leafy greens (not iceberg lettuce), like collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, kale, mustard greens, beet greens, bok choy, okra, swiss chard, etc., legumes (cooked only), dried fruit, dairy products like yogurt or shredded cheese. Many of the items on this list are pricy, but if you've got an egg bound hen, in an emergency, they'll all provide a great calcium boost which may ultimately save a hens life.
Be mindful that chickens aren't designed to digest milk sugars, so go easy on the dairy if you notice diarrhea; otherwise they absolutely love dairy products so they tend to be a go-to for me if I have a sick bird that also needs calcium None of the feed stores offer oyster shell in my country, apparently it costs too much; but they DO offer ground up eggshell by the pound, can buy as much or as little as I like, so I buy that by the bagful plus feed them back their own eggshells, crushed.

 

[rkapfen]

@rkapfen did you have oyster shell in a separate container for the layers?

Of course! I also sprinkle some in their layer feed

 

[Timothy Menezes]

None of the feed stores offer oyster shell in my country, apparently it costs too much; but they DO offer ground up eggshell by the pound, can buy as much or as little as I like, so I buy that by the bagful plus feed them back their own eggshells, crushed.

How strange! I have never seen eggshells for sale anywhere! I would totally try it if I could find it though.

Wonder if you could order the Oyster Shells from Tractor Supple online. Its $10 for 50 pounds at my local TSC. Little goes a long way with the Oyster, still working on that bag over 2 years later. The ground up egg shells I feed back to them go fast though.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I feed 20% non medicated starter and grower with oyster shell in a separate container. The mill I buy from doesn't have an all flock.

This is what I do, also. I switched after I realized that my Brahma pullet was probably not getting enough protein. She's still growing afterall.

It also made adding chicks easier. I have a mama raising a baby currently. Everyone free ranges for part of the day, but it is so much easier to have them all eat the same feed.

Bonus: the grower I buy now is cheaper!

 

[Raptorsgocluck]

@rkapfen did you have oyster shell in a separate container for the layers?

Yes, it was sperate.