First attempt at letting a broody hen hatch chicks

[Shezadandy]

Hmm ok, I typically throw the oyster shell crumbles out in the run don't keep it in the coop. I will try to figure out what works best. I feed a non-GMO layer pellet mixed with a small amount of scratch. I have 2 really picky hens tried to switch food once before and they stopped laying and got a bit thin.

Too much calcium will cause kidney failure in chicks. It might be best in your situation to either isolate the 2 picky hens and continue them on the regular diet or have the broody and chicks isolated with only chick starter feeds.

Don't take my word for it, please do research it to your own satisfaction so you can make the best choice for your flock, but here are a couple figures-- and please, please do read through the attached thread -- has good info and is a good starting point.

(Edited to add: Just like any other subject, it has as many opinions and varied experiences as there are people, as you will see!! That's why we bring up areas of concern so at least you're aware of a potential issue.)

Chick starter (purina) has min Calcium of .75%, max of 1.25%
Layer 'oyster strong' (purina) has min Calcium of 3.25%, max 4.25%

So, a chick eating layer is getting more than 2.6-5.7 TIMES the level of calcium it should which is a serious issue (edited to add) over a period of time until the calcium builds up.

Also edited to add: Figure arrived at by dividing the min Calcium of layer (3.25) by the max Calcium of starter (1.25) for 2.6, and 5.7 was dividing max Calcium of layer (4.25) by the min Calcium of starter (.75)

Here's a thread to start you off-- (edited to add) though it's discussing having fed game bird/turkey starter to chicks with max calcium of 2%, not layer with max calcium of 4.25%.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1024086/i-fed-my-chick-too-much-calcium-now-what

 

[Gorman Farm]

I am not intending on feeding babies layer feed. I will keep them on chick starter. I will just have to figure out the housing is what I meant. I do also buy 30% gamebird for the turkeys so I always have that on hand, it does have GMO products in it though. I throw oyster shell in their run too. I never had this dilemma before as I have incubated and fed starter/grower till they were at least 3 months old, this is my first time letting mom raise them.

 

[Gorman Farm]

I am not intending on feeding babies layer feed. I will keep them on chick starter. I will just have to figure out the housing is what I meant. I do also buy 30% gamebird for the turkeys so I always have that on hand, it does have GMO products in it though. I throw oyster shell in their run too. I never had this dilemma before as I have incubated and fed starter/grower till they were at least 3 months old, this is my first time letting mom raise them.

 

[Gorman Farm]

I am not intending on feeding babies layer feed. I will keep them on chick starter. I will just have to figure out the housing is what I meant. I do also buy 30% gamebird for the turkeys so I always have that on hand, it does have GMO products in it though. I throw oyster shell in their run too. I never had this dilemma before as I have incubated and fed starter/grower till they were at least 3 months old, this is my first time letting mom raise them.

 

[drumstick diva]

Gorman farm your reply triple posted. You can ask a moderator to delete 2 of the 3 posts. Hope this doesn't mean the problemic 'submit' button is going nuts again - a very frequent annoyance.

 

[Gorman Farm]

yes it is going crazy

 

[Gorman Farm]

Successful hatch all five. I have a question though, on the black sex link hen x buff orpington roo chicks, can you sex them by color?
Looks like mom wasn't sitting on any of her own eggs, babies are 2 pure buffs and I think the other three are bsl x buff none look like they came from her but I could be wrong.




Thanks in advance.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Successful hatch all five. I have a question though, on the black sex link hen x buff orpington roo chicks, can you sex them by color?
Looks like mom wasn't sitting on any of her own eggs, babies are 2 pure buffs and I think the other three are bsl x buff none look like they came from her but I could be wrong.


Thanks in advance.

No you cannot.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Successful hatch all five. I have a question though, on the black sex link hen x buff orpington roo chicks, can you sex them by color? Looks like mom wasn't sitting on any of her own eggs, babies are 2 pure buffs and I think the other three are bsl x buff none look like they came from her but I could be wrong. Thanks in advance.

They are adorable!! And unfortunately, as far as I know, BSLs don't breed true beyond the first generation, that's why you have to keep crossing purebreds again as opposed to BSLs to each other, so I don't think it would be possible to get sex links from them. But I could be wrong.

 

[donrae]

Your dark babies do look like a black x buff cross. You won't be able to sex them until they are older. That color combo makes very pretty birds, usually gold/buff on the front half changing to black on the back. Although, like any mix, part of the fun is getting to see how they turn out!