Feeding chicks and hens within same flock

[Chickey24]

I was so concerned about my introducing my 8 week old chicks to my hens and now that they are successfully integrated I read that the chicks should not be eating the layer feed,......oops! I have the chicks feeder in the coop with their fast grow crumbles. The hens layer feed pellets is in their feeder. I know the hens are eating the crumbles but I haven't seen the chicks eating the layer pellets (I'm not sure they could eat the pellet, and the hens won't let them near their feeder quite yet). But I'm not monitoring them 24/7-is it dangerous if the chicks eat the layer pellets? Do you put your layers on the fast grow too until the chicks are grown and laying?
What to do, what to do?

Thanks for your replies in advance!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

It is not good for young birds to eat layer feed -- it was way too much calcium for them. I would put the entire flock on a non-medicated started or grower and put a bowl of oyster shell out for your layers separate from the feed.

The babies may not be eating the layer but why risk it. The older birds do not have to have a layer -- I never feed a layer -- what they need is extra calcium which the oyster will provide.

Once everyone is laying you can stick with the grower + oyster or switch to a layer, up to you.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Just feed something everyone can eat. As Dinos said. Grower, All Flock, non-medicated Starter, Flock Raiser, GameBird, etc. The only feed that isn't flock friendly is the Layer, which, BTW, is essentially Grower anyhow, with double the calcium added. Only laying hens have the ability to expel that much calcium through the egg shells. Non laying birds risk have their renal systems and kidneys trashed by all that calcium.

 

[jahphotogal]

This is good info as I was going to ask the same question. I have both kinds of food out and they are eating each others' feed - the littles like the layer feed, and the bigs love the baby food!

I'll take away the layer feed and just put out calcium!