My question is: what do you feed a flock that is made up of birds in both the egg laying stage and the growth stage?
Background: I have two RIR hens that were my "test proof" that we could raise chickens. They are now old enough that they lay every day- I'd say about 30-35 weeks old. Then we got a batch of chicks via mail- which are now about 8 weeks old- there are 24 of them. Which gives us 26 all together.
When the chicks were very little- I just fed a scoop of layer feed and 2 scoops of chick starter. I watched the hens pick out the large pellets and the chicks go for the chick starter- and figured that it was all good- every one was getting that they needed....
Fast forward to today- and the little chicks now eat the layer feed and the hens peck at the grower feed meant for the chicks. So everyone is just eating whatever they get to first.... which means that it is highly probable that no one is getting what they really need. They all look great- and the hens lay well- but I have to wonder if it is healthy in the long term or if I'm just overly concerned.
Barriers: It is not feasible in our set up to divide the flock for feeding. I have also tried feeding different feed in different areas with no luck.
Plan: Today I plan to change the feed for the winter- and make a giant tub of layer feed, grower feed, add in some scratch, sunflower seeds and hope for the best. Is this the right action to take?
Background: I have two RIR hens that were my "test proof" that we could raise chickens. They are now old enough that they lay every day- I'd say about 30-35 weeks old. Then we got a batch of chicks via mail- which are now about 8 weeks old- there are 24 of them. Which gives us 26 all together.
When the chicks were very little- I just fed a scoop of layer feed and 2 scoops of chick starter. I watched the hens pick out the large pellets and the chicks go for the chick starter- and figured that it was all good- every one was getting that they needed....
Fast forward to today- and the little chicks now eat the layer feed and the hens peck at the grower feed meant for the chicks. So everyone is just eating whatever they get to first.... which means that it is highly probable that no one is getting what they really need. They all look great- and the hens lay well- but I have to wonder if it is healthy in the long term or if I'm just overly concerned.
Barriers: It is not feasible in our set up to divide the flock for feeding. I have also tried feeding different feed in different areas with no luck.
Plan: Today I plan to change the feed for the winter- and make a giant tub of layer feed, grower feed, add in some scratch, sunflower seeds and hope for the best. Is this the right action to take?
