Feeding Different Age Chickens

[Montana116]

Good Morning (if this finds you in the morning lol),

I have 9 week old chickens who are out in their coop/run. Right now i have them on Starter/Grower. Obviously eventually they will be on layer feed.

I recently got some 1-2 week old chicks from TSC and am curious how to go about dealing with feeding when the new chicks should still be on grower feed while the older ones are on layer feed when they are out together a couple months in the future.

TIA!

 

[NatJ]

I have 9 week old chickens who are out in their coop/run. Right now i have them on Starter/Grower. Obviously eventually they will be on layer feed.

I recently got some 1-2 week old chicks from TSC and am curious how to go about dealing with feeding when the new chicks should still be on grower feed while the older ones are on layer feed when they are out together a couple months in the future.

The only special thing about layer feed is the amount of calcium: about three times as much as what starter/grower has. Laying hens need this much, and non-layers do not need it and can be harmed by it.

But if you give them a separate source of calcium (such as a dish of oyster shell), chickens are quite good at eating the right amount for their own needs.

So the easy thing in your situation would be to feed them all starter/grower, even after some start laying, and provide a dish of oyster shell. Put out the oyster shell when the first ones are getting close to laying age, and keep it always available after that. They will all try a few bites at first, while they decide what this is and whether they like it, but the younger ones will not eat enough to do themselves any harm.

After they are all laying, you can choose to switch to layer feed if you want, or you can just keep feeding them starter/grower with a dish of free-choice oyster shell available.

Where I say you can use starter/grower, you can also use feeds labeled "Flock Raiser" or "All Flock" or similar things. Just check the label: you want protein about 18% or higher, and calcium around 1%. The layer feeds have calcium around 4%, which is what you want to avoid when your have non-layers.

 

[FrostRanger]

That is exactly what I do for my mixed age flock, it works well. Honestly many people just keep their flocks on all flock permanently for that reason (that and many people have roosters).

 

[EddieSalita]

Feed the whole flock for the youngest member is the easy to follow rule I use.

Just keep a calcium source on the side for free use choice.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As others have said above, "all flock" all the time, for every bird of every age and gender with free choice oyster shell and a grit source is the preferred solution for mixed flocks here on BYC.

 

[pdnarus10]

The only special thing about layer feed is the amount of calcium: about three times as much as what starter/grower has. Laying hens need this much, and non-layers do not need it and can be harmed by it.

But if you give them a separate source of calcium (such as a dish of oyster shell), chickens are quite good at eating the right amount for their own needs.

So the easy thing in your situation would be to feed them all starter/grower, even after some start laying, and provide a dish of oyster shell. Put out the oyster shell when the first ones are getting close to laying age, and keep it always available after that. They will all try a few bites at first, while they decide what this is and whether they like it, but the younger ones will not eat enough to do themselves any harm.

After they are all laying, you can choose to switch to layer feed if you want, or you can just keep feeding them starter/grower with a dish of free-choice oyster shell available.

Where I say you can use starter/grower, you can also use feeds labeled "Flock Raiser" or "All Flock" or similar things. Just check the label: you want protein about 18% or higher, and calcium around 1%. The layer feeds have calcium around 4%, which is what you want to avoid when your have non-layers.

My new chicks are 15 weeks. I had put some oyster shell and egg shells in w other chicks that are older. They were going crazy over it. Is it OK for them? I was reading that chickens will know when they need calcium. I've been feeding scratch and peck grower food for them. Do they have a calcium deficiency?

 

[pdnarus10]

It was only a very small condiment dish worth

 

[AntiqueB]

They will try anything when you first put it out. Grower has the right nutrition for their age; they shouldn't need extra calcium yet, but they will very soon.

You can tell if they getting close to laying by their combs getting redder, and by their squatting for you when you are nearby or when you pet them.

 

[pdnarus10]

They will try anything when you first put it out. Grower has the right nutrition for their age; they shouldn't need extra calcium yet, but they will very soon.

You can tell if they getting close to laying by their combs getting redder, and by their squatting for you when you are nearby or when you pet them.

Hmm my one hen is doing that. I was petting her and she squatted. Interesting. Yes her comb is much redder. The other breeds don't even have combs hardly any. She's the only one with a big red cone. I have a blue splash Moran, a Barred Plymouth and a Buckeye.

 

[NatJ]

My new chicks are 15 weeks. I had put some oyster shell and egg shells in w other chicks that are older. They were going crazy over it. Is it OK for them? I was reading that chickens will know when they need calcium. I've been feeding scratch and peck grower food for them. Do they have a calcium deficiency?

It is generally safe to put in a dish of oyster shell and let them try it at their own pace.

Some chickens will try everything at first, then decide how much to eat later.
Some other chickens are scared of every new thing, and won't try it until they spend hours or days watching it, just to make sure it won't eat them.

Either way, I would probably leave some oyster shell available to them, and whether they have a calcium deficiency or not, it will probably take a few days or less for them to settle into a pattern of eating the right amount for their needs (more if they do have a deficiency, more when they are ready to start laying eggs, less if neither of those things applies.)