Feeding different age birds together?

[DonkeysandDucks]

Help!!
I've added two Austrolorp babies (8 weeks) to my flock of ladies that are about 5 months old. All free-range all day, and I've been mixing layer pellets, starter crumbles, cracked corn together and letting them pick what they want or need. BUT, now I'm worried that the "little girls" are getting too much of something or not enough of something.

Any suggestions?

Today I fed them watermelon on the rind! What fun we had!

Thanks
Cindy

 

[silkiechicken]

I find that my chickens love to steal each others feed. Layer feed has too much calcium in it for the younger birds. The best compromise is to provide non medicated grower for everybody and give oyster shell free choice. I dont' think they can tell between layer and starter crumbles. They look the same to me at least!

Edit: To keep the babies out of the hen feed, i put the hen feed higher up so the little ones can't see into the dish... or reach it.