Feeding Different Aged Birds

[JennsHensOz]

I have two three month olds and two five month olds together but can't decide which feed they should be on. Of course up till now they've been on medicated pullet Grower but that will no longer be helpful for the POL girls. I do not have any way of separating them at this stage.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

You can continue to feed all grower with a separate dish of oyster shells for the POL pullets calcium needs.

 

[PirateGirl]

I would feed them all grower until they are all laying. You can offer oyster shell on the side if you've got some laying and some not.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Many of us never feed layed ration at all.....a basic starter, grower, all flock, flock raiser, etc suits all ages, stages & genders.....free choice oyster shell for active layers to take as needed. I opt for a 20% crumble

 

[JennsHensOz]

You can continue to feed all grower with a separate dish of oyster shells for the POL pullets calcium needs.

Two questions with that:
1. If the younger ones eat the shells I thought that would be too much calcium for that stage?
2. If the older ones are eating medicated Grower then start laying I'd need to either throw out eggs or feed back to them (after cooking of course).

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Two questions with that:
1. If the younger ones eat the shells I thought that would be too much calcium for that stage?
2. If the older ones are eating medicated Grower then start laying I'd need to either throw out eggs or feed back to them (after cooking of course).

Oyster shell is unique in that only those who need it are drawn to consume the amount that would be concerning... youngsters will peck at it our of curiosity but that's it.
Medicated feed typically only contains coccidiostats, which are thiamine blockers, and pose no risk to consumption. Look at the ingredient tag for the specific drug(s) listed

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Two questions with that:
1. If the younger ones eat the shells I thought that would be too much calcium for that stage?
2. If the older ones are eating medicated Grower then start laying I'd need to either throw out eggs or feed back to them (after cooking of course).

1) they’ll only eat the amount they need.

2) You wouldn't be getting enough medication from eating the eggs to affect you.

 

[peeps224]

It will be fine for the three month olds to eat the same feed as a five month old, by this stage in there life they should be strong enough and healthy enough to go of there food, but I wouldn’t recommend doing this for anything Younger than three months. just don’t put the five month olds on the three month old food it could cause angel wing which is when the primary feathers of the wing grow up at a funny angle. although it can be fixed using a bandage it takes a while and is uncomfortable for the bird.

 

[JennsHensOz]

1) they’ll only eat the amount they need.

2) You wouldn't be getting enough medication from eating the eggs to affect you.

Very many thanks, that's great news!

 

[JennsHensOz]

It will be fine for the three month olds to eat the same feed as a five month old, by this stage in there life they should be strong enough and healthy enough to go of there food, but I wouldn’t recommend doing this for anything Younger than three months. just don’t put the five month olds on the three month old food it could cause angel wing which is when the primary feathers of the wing grow up at a funny angle.

Oh dear! Contradicts previous advice! But I think it'll be easier and safer this way. Many thanks.