Feeding different age groups and Turkeys

[dtabor]

So here's my issue.....We have our older adult birds who are on layer feed, we have 6 younger birds (appx 11-12-weeks old) who are pretty well integrated into the flock during daylight hours, and we have 4 turkeys who will be with us until mid October or so. What I have been doing is letting the older birds out into the pen to feed and do their thing about half day until they are ready to come out and forage around the lawn, then I put their food higher so the younger birds cant get to it before letting them out too.

I was wondering if there was ONE food I could feed that would be safe and proper for all of the birds until the younger ones get old enough for layer feed. I know the young birds cant eat the layer feed and have read that it is ok for the older ones to eat the grower feed. I feed the turkeys a multi-flock feed that they have been on along with our meat birds who are no longer with us.

Would the multi-flock feed be OK for the younger birds until October-ish?

 

[R2elk]

So here's my issue.....We have our older adult birds who are on layer feed, we have 6 younger birds (appx 11-12-weeks old) who are pretty well integrated into the flock during daylight hours, and we have 4 turkeys who will be with us until mid October or so. What I have been doing is letting the older birds out into the pen to feed and do their thing about half day until they are ready to come out and forage around the lawn, then I put their food higher so the younger birds cant get to it before letting them out too.

I was wondering if there was ONE food I could feed that would be safe and proper for all of the birds until the younger ones get old enough for layer feed. I know the young birds cant eat the layer feed and have read that it is ok for the older ones to eat the grower feed. I feed the turkeys a multi-flock feed that they have been on along with our meat birds who are no longer with us.

Would the multi-flock feed be OK for the younger birds until October-ish?

The all flock will be fine for all your birds as long as you provide free choice oyster shell for your laying hens.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I have chickens, ducks, and turkeys that range from 2 weeks old to 5 years old.

What I do for the mixed age flocks is put the starter/grower food in first and call the older guys over for the layer feed. The birds have learned that the wrong food hurts their tummy and they seldom -- NOW -- eat the wrong food. I am sooo looking forward to one food for all. Lol - like that is going to happen!

I save the egg shells and crush them and throw it on the ground. The girls get what they need, as they need it. I tried the container of crushed egg shells and they always knocked it over and spread it on the ground.

There's sand in one portion of the run/ground as well as in many of the houses. So they get their grit.

Everyone is offered supplemental foods from the garden - greens, tomatoes, weeds, fruit, flowers, seeds, etc. Some eat it, some don't. Most of my guys run free all day. I prefer that they free range. My nearly blind chickens get feed and my layers get feed, as well as the opportunity to free range.

The best indicator is the chickens poop. If they are repeatedly shedding a lot of intestinal tissue, they are eating the wrong feed. (Or, they may have a more serious health issue.)

Let us know how the one feed works. I know I can't do that with the babies (2 weeks old), but it's a thought for older mixed flocks come winter.