Feeding Chicks and Broody

[EverV]

Hello! This is purely a theoretical question, as I am in no position to hatch eggs under a broody or in an incubator (I don't even have a broody, and Golden Buffs aren't prone to it), but I was wondering what you people feed chicks that are being raised by a broody. I would assume an all-flock feed, but I'd read somewhere that you should only give that to chicks over 6 or 8 weeks (I think it was 8), which defeats the purpose for me. It's not possible to feed the chicks and mother hen different things I'd assume. Can the broody eat chick food or something?

 

[DobieLover]

My broody and chicks are eating a mix of game and layer pellets, same as the flock. But I soak theirs first because it’s too big.

Mom will break it up for them.

I keep my flock on Flock Raiser for life. I keep 2 containers of oyster shell on the side at all times for the active layers so I never have to change anything.

 

[Anne02]

Hello! This is purely a theoretical question, as I am in no position to hatch eggs under a broody or in an incubator (I don't even have a broody, and Golden Buffs aren't prone to it), but I was wondering what you people feed chicks that are being raised by a broody. I would assume an all-flock feed, but I'd read somewhere that you should only give that to chicks over 6 or 8 weeks (I think it was 8), which defeats the purpose for me. It's not possible to feed the chicks and mother hen different things I'd assume. Can the broody eat chick food or something?

It is actually okay for a broody to eat chick feed. She's not laying, so doesn't need layer feed. With my broody over the summer, I gave her chick feed for the whole time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

While on the topic of chicks, I was wondering what you do with cockerels (do I even want to know?).

Do you want to, probably not. Do you need to have a plan, absolutely. My hatches are hardly ever 50-50. Most are more like 67-33, either sex could be the 67. I've had some worse than that. You probably won't know which are boys or girls until they are at least 5 weeks old, sometimes it takes longer.

One of my goals is to raise them for meat so I have an easy solution. Sounds like that might not be one of your goals.

Some people may kill them and feed them to their dogs. Or bury them somewhere. Some find animal rescue sites or zoos that will take them as food for their animals.

Some people keep the boys separated in bachelor pads, a coop and run dedicated to boys only, no girls for them to fight over. That can get expensive housing and feeding them, plus the extra work involved.

A very common solution is to sell or give the boys away. I don't know what country you are in so I don't know what is available to you. In the US Craigslist can help with this. Maybe your feed store will let you put something on a bulletin board. If you can fine your state or country chat thread in the "Where am I? Where are you!" section of this forum you can chat with your neighbors about that. You may find a social media chat thread in your area where it would be an appropriate topic. Something to remember, once you no longer own them you no longer control what happens to them. The more conditions you put on them the harder it can be to find someone to take them.

If you hatch many eggs you will get boys. It can help your stress levels a lot if you already know what you will do with them. It is an excellent question.

 

[Mvan42]

When my broody hatches. I don't change anything. They have scratch feed which does have layers pellets mixed in. Mama know what her babies can eat.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would assume an all-flock feed, but I'd read somewhere that you should only give that to chicks over 6 or 8 weeks (I think it was 8),

Do you recall here you read that? Did they say why? It's often interesting to read those comments in context.

Can the broody eat chick food

Absolutely, it is good for her. The only basic differences in Layer and the different feeds is that Layer has excess calcium (it has been proven that it can be harmful to growing chicks) and they can have different protein levels. If you look at the "analysis" on the label you'll see all the other things listed have essentially the same amounts. There will be some small differences but nothing really significant. People typically feed chicks Starter, All-Flock, or Flock-Raiser for the first month or two of the chick's life. Those are typically fairly high in protein content which gets the chicks off to a good start and will help the hen recover from when she was sitting on the nest incubating her eggs. Some people feed those until the pullets start to lay or feed them forever with oyster shell offered on the side.

Since I usually have growing chicks with my flock I never feed Layer. When I have young chicks they all eat a Starter. When they get older they all get Grower. I always have oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the calcium for their egg shells seem to know it and eat what they need. The ones that don't need it may take a bite or two but don't eat enough to harm themselves. That's not just the chicks, it's also the hens that are not laying and my rooster. That way I don't have to worry about who is eating what. I let them do the work.

 

[3KillerBs]

While on the topic of chicks, I was wondering what you do with cockerels (do I even want to know?).

To be blunt, eat them. My chickens are livestock.

I'm going to be getting a number of straight-run chicks this spring and I know in advance that I'll keep no more than 2 roosters.

*Maybe* when I'm selling excess pullets someone *could potentially* want a cockerel to go with them. That's a big maybe.

The extras will be delicious.

 

[EverV]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Nigel27]

My broody and chicks are eating a mix of game and layer pellets, same as the flock. But I soak theirs first because it’s too big.

 

[EverV]

I can not remember

I would assume an all-flock feed, but I'd read somewhere that you should only give that to chicks over 6 or 8 weeks (I think it was 8),

Do you recall here you read that? Did they say why? It's often interesting to read those comments in context.

Unfortunatly, I don't remember where I read that.