Feeding different ages...

[mcbride]

Okay,

I am new at raising chickens. I bought several different breads, and I now have different stages/ages of chickens. I have one hen who sounds like she is going to start laying soon, and she does look mature enough. She is a black sex-link. Other girls look close as well, but with such a mixed age group, 5 months old and down, what too feed if a few start laying and others are not there yet. Do I put out one certain feed until all lay?

My next questions is how do I protect the chickens from worms and other diseases without effecting the eggs once they start laying.

I have done an excessive amount of reading, but really not finding answers specific yet to this.

Suggestions and Lessons... All welcome

 

[Eggcessive]

What a lot of chicken owners do that raise chicks each year is to use either unmedicated chick starter or an "all flock" or Flock Raiser brand that all ages and roosters can safely eat. I feed it all their lives. You just need to put out a bowl of crushed oyster shell or egg shells for the laying hens to get their extra calcium. They will take what they need, and the others may taste it occasionally, but won't take much.

 

[mpgo4th]

Same question here.I have 6 pullets that are POL and I just added a 6 week old roo. I don't want him eating layer and I'm looking for the best option. Southern state said I could feed the non med. all grain start and grow which is 18% protein to everyone for life. And that I could put oyster shell in a bowl for the layers. They also said they think their super breeder would be OK as it has a lower calcium level (max.3.5 min 2.5). But I'm going to breed my birds and I dont want the chicks to have that much cal, so I think I'll use start/grow for everyone and see how the eggs are. I dont want to have to keep my roo apart from the flock so he doesnt eat their feed. I really makes me wonder what the old timers did? I know they didnt buy more than one feed. The internet ruins everything thats simple and fun!!!

 

[Eggcessive]

I have learned to research feed and other issues myself because many feed store workers know almost nothing about feed. Years ago people just fed scraps from their table and perhaps some cracked corn to their chickens. Free range chickens do quite well in the summer without much extra. Chicks can get later kidney damage and gout from eating layer feed which has 3 times the calcium they need.

 

[mcbride]

Thanks so much! I am glad I asked. I have noticed no one that sells chicken feed around here knows about the feed at all. This helps a lot! I was raised around chickens, and the new feed compacted with new ways to raise chickens was not there with my grandparents. I care about these chickens, 34, lol. Just do not want to harm any in the process.

 

[slipshift]

My chicks are 4 weeks old now and don't seem to want to eat chick starter anymore. They are loose in the pen and are gorging themselves on bugs and walking sticks. The feed is there for them but they would rather scratch for the random seed. All are very healthy and on the run all day.

Jim

 

[gryeyes]

What a lot of chicken owners do that raise chicks each year is to use either unmedicated chick starter or an "all flock" or Flock Raiser brand that all ages and roosters can safely eat.  I feed it all their lives.  You just need to put out a bowl of crushed oyster shell or egg shells for the laying hens to get their extra calcium.  They will take what they need, and the others may taste it occasionally, but won't take much.

This is exactly what I do. I use Nutrena "All Flock" because I have all ages of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys in my flock. Oh, and a volunteer peacock which showed up a couple of weeks ago and apparently likes the place (and the feed).

 

[slipshift]

My wife just found a new treat for the chicks, spaghetti. They went bonkers, running around, looking for the strands we threw. After they finished the spaghetti they gathered around me looking for more. I think that is the first time they saw me as a giver of food.

Jim

 

[Ciqala]

My wife just found a new treat for the chicks, spaghetti. They went bonkers, running around, looking for the strands we threw. After they finished the spaghetti they gathered around me looking for more. I think that is the first time they saw me as a giver of food.

Jim

That must have been a riot to watch. Thanks for sharing, I am definitely going to see what my flock thinks of spaghetti.