feeding young chicks

[hcarol]

I have some one year old hens and I am about to introduce some 6 week old chicks to this flock. I want to know since they will all be together if it is ok for the young chicks to eats what the older hens are eating (laying mash). I don't know how to introduce them without the chicks being able to eat the laying mash. I still have some chick starter that I will continue to have in a feeder. Both feeds will be available to the young chicks and older hens. Is this ok?

 

[azygous]

Better would be to take up the layer feed for now and feed the older hens the chick feed. Chicks shouldn't eat layer, too much calcium, until they begin to lay eggs.

How do you plan to integrate your chicks? Tossing six-week olds in with adults without providing them a safe refuge in which to escape bullying is asking for tragedy.

I discuss my panic room method of chick integration in this article with pictures. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

 

[hcarol]

Better would be to take up the layer feed for now and feed the older hens the chick feed. Chicks shouldn't eat layer, too much calcium, until they begin to lay eggs.

How do you plan to integrate your chicks? Tossing six-week olds in with adults without providing them a safe refuge in which to escape bullying is asking for tragedy.

I discuss my panic room method of chick integration in this article with pictures. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

I can see I didn't explain my set up very good. I have had the young chicks in my coop using chicken wire to seperated them from the older hens for almost 2 weeks and feel it is time to let them mingle, I will have a portal(s) so the young chicks can get back into their area if they need/want to. My biggest concern was what to allow them to eat. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

[Folly's place]

All my birds eat an all-flock feed, Purina Flock Raiser, with oyster shell in a separate container for the laying hens. Easy! Chicks do fine on it, as do roosters, hens laying eggs, and birds who aren't laying at the time.
Mary