Feeding my chickesn

[Cindi1972]

I have a question please: I have 4 girls who are about 16 weeks old. Two are white leghorns and two are barred cochin bantams. Last night I used the last of my grower feed and I would hate to buy another huge bag when I am pretty close to needing layer feed. Two of the hens are already developing their 'red' waddles and showing signs of laying...but I don't want to start them on the layer feed too soon. Is it very important to wait until they start laying or can I buy the layer feed this afternoon? Thanks for listening!

 

[MakelaNJoe]

ive read you dont want to give layer until they are actively laying i myslef dont have experience with this so hopefully someone experienced will jump in! the calcium in layer feed can be damaging to young pullets peiple usually just leave some oyster shell out for them instead of going to layer. my chickens are diffetent ages so i have the on a all poultry feed with oyster shells out for the older girls (15 wks) cause who knows when they will need it i dont? sorry i couldnt be more help!

 

[Kayana]

Well, the laying feed won't hurt any of them to be honest, I have been feeding all mine that for a bit now, even the Roos. They don't seem to mind it, and they all look brighter and more energetic then when I was not feeding it to them. Even chicks can get some extra vitamins from it. I have fed all my chicks it and they too are more enthusiastic and they're feathers look gorgeous. The thing you could do is mix some with your chick feed if you have any, and then mix some cracked corn and all that with it too. We mix our laying feed and cracked corn together and they go nuts over it.

 

[junebuggena]

Well, the laying feed won't hurt any of them to be honest, I have been feeding all mine that for a bit now, even the Roos. They don't seem to mind it, and they all look brighter and more energetic then when I was not feeding it to them. Even chicks can get some extra vitamins from it. I have fed all my chicks it and they too are more enthusiastic and they're feathers look gorgeous. The thing you could do is mix some with your chick feed if you have any, and then mix some cracked corn and all that with it too. We mix our laying feed and cracked corn together and they go nuts over it.

Are you saying that chicks can be fed layer feed? This is not true. The calcium added to layer feed is very harmful to birds that are not actively laying. It can be deadly to young chicks if fed exclusively in just a matter of weeks. Non laying birds have no way to expel all that calcium. It builds up in the kidneys and will cause them to eventually shut down, killing the bird. Just because a bird seems fine right now, does not mean that the damage is not being done. You won't see any signs of illness until the kidneys are to the point of no return.

 

[Kayana]

Oh, well I didn't know that sorry!!! don't listen to me :S Well we don't feed them that now.. I told my husband that and he was like "Oh CRAP!" well no more laying food for them. I am sorry about that, I didn't know because we never had any issues with it. Now we just mix starter feed with our cracked corn. I don't think that will hurt any chicken right? Even Adults?



PS. Boy I feel like an idiot...

 

[Chicken girl 15]

In the feeder the girls get all flock grower. On the side they have oyster shell and a quart jar of scratch daily tossed all over the yard. They are happy healthy girls, although I think the wild birds eat most of the scratch. They get at least 6 hours a day of free range so feed is super cheap.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Oh, well I didn't know that sorry!!! don't listen to me :S Well we don't feed them that now.. I told my husband that and he was like "Oh CRAP!" well no more laying food for them. I am sorry about that, I didn't know because we never had any issues with it. Now we just mix starter feed with our cracked corn. I don't think that will hurt any chicken right? Even Adults?



PS. Boy I feel like an idiot...

No need to feel like an idiot - you don't know what you don't know - and now you do know. The feeding of layer feed to birds not actively laying (males, birds that are too young and hens not laying due to molt, age, broodiness, etc) is one of the most common places where folks often go awry in caring for their flock. Most are unaware of the fact that it is not a good practice, some are aware but don't care/don't believe the scientifically proven damage that is done to the internal systems of birds overdosed on calcium.
Rather than bother with worrying about who should/shouldn't eat a particular feed in my flock I simply offer flock raiser (grower ration) and provide calcium free-choice for the taking by those birds who are in need of it.

 

[junebuggena]

I've had to educate feed store employees that insisted that all chickens need to eat layer pellets after 16 weeks old. It's not a first time chicken owners fault for not knowing, especially when their local source of information is giving them bad advice.

Oh, well I didn't know that sorry!!! don't listen to me :S Well we don't feed them that now.. I told my husband that and he was like "Oh CRAP!" well no more laying food for them. I am sorry about that, I didn't know because we never had any issues with it. Now we just mix starter feed with our cracked corn. I don't think that will hurt any chicken right? Even Adults?



PS. Boy I feel like an idiot...

You don't need to mix the feed with corn. The corn will lower the protein content too much. It's really difficult to give a chicken too much protein, and even if they do get a little too much, it will easily be expelled in their feces. The higher protein content of grower or starter helps keep production up in the warm summer months, when heat causes them to eat less. It also helps prevent egg eating and helps birds feather in faster after a molt.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

My birds eat chick starter or growing all their lives (with oyster shell on the side for those who need it). I typically have young birds running around all year, so it cuts down on the amount of work I'd have to do keeping feed separate

 

[sjturner79]

The one thing to watch on started feed is if it is medicated. Many of the medications can cause as much damage to a laying hen as the calcium does to chicks.