First time chicken owner- So many questions....

[maggieandotis]

Hi,

First, I love this community! Everyone here is just awesome. It's so cool.

Question 1. I am a first time chicken owner and I went to one of our local feed stores and asked them what they recommended for our 6 week old chicks. I had bought a 50lb bag of the attached and had gone through it as I was raising 13 chicks for both myself and sister-in-law. Now I am down to (5) pullets and (1) sweet, sweet BO cockerel. The feed store told me to buy the same bag I had previously and to feed that to them for the first 4 months. After reading more about it, I am wondering if I should have found a store that sells grower feed. is it okay to continue to give them this feed until it is gone or should I try and return it (or donate it) and switch them to grower feed or can I mix them both so the starter feed doesn't go to waste? Also, is there a brand of food that is high quality that I should be looking for?

Question 2. I moved my flock to the coop a couple of weeks ago (I am in southern California) with a heat lamp in the brooder box at night. I have been putting my chicks up there at night and when I do, I put their food and water in there with them. Should I be doing this?

Question 3. Do roosters need a different diet? Hoping I can feed them all the same thing. I am raising them for eggs only. When they eventually die, our plan is to bury them and say a few kind words.

Question 4: What do you recommend as treats? There is a big Brazilian Pepper tree that is right about their coop. Occasionally, a leaf or two flies into the coop and they seem to really enjoy them so the past couple of mornings I have gathered up a handful and tossed into the coop and they love it. But as I was typing my other questions for you, I thought maybe I shouldn't be doing that. Are there some trees that are poisonous to my sweet chicks?

I know I will have more questions but that is enough for now. Thank you all so much! Maggie

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Question 1. I am a first time chicken owner and I went to one of our local feed stores and asked them what they recommended for our 6 week old chicks. I had bought a 50lb bag of the attached and had gone through it as I was raising 13 chicks for both myself and sister-in-law. Now I am down to (5) pullets and (1) sweet, sweet BO cockerel. The feed store told me to buy the same bag I had previously and to feed that to them for the first 4 months. After reading more about it, I am wondering if I should have found a store that sells grower feed. is it okay to continue to give them this feed until it is gone or should I try and return it (or donate it) and switch them to grower feed or can I mix them both so the starter feed doesn't go to waste? Also, is there a brand of food that is high quality that I should be looking for?

Question 2. I moved my flock to the coop a couple of weeks ago (I am in southern California) with a heat lamp in the brooder box at night. I have been putting my chicks up there at night and when I do, I put their food and water in there with them. Should I be doing this?

Question 3. Do roosters need a different diet? Hoping I can feed them all the same thing. I am raising them for eggs only. When they eventually die, our plan is to bury them and say a few kind words.

Question 4: What do you recommend as treats? There is a big Brazilian Pepper tree that is right about their coop. Occasionally, a leaf or two flies into the coop and they seem to really enjoy them so the past couple of mornings I have gathered up a handful and tossed into the coop and they love it. But as I was typing my other questions for you, I thought maybe I shouldn't be doing that. Are there some trees that are poisonous to my sweet chicks?

I know I will have more questions but that is enough for now. Thank you all so much! Maggie
View attachment 2128768

Hi!

1. It looks like that feed is starter/grower, so it should be fine for them until they lay their first eggs. Once they lay their first egg, switch them to layer feed.

2. I do this until my chicks start to lay their eggs. Once they start laying, I leave water in the coop and food in the run. This is because I sometimes don't let the chickens out until seven, and they wake up at the crack of dawn! Another option is to give your chicks mash at night in the brooder, so if they wake up, they have some food and water.

3. I believe you can give roosters layer feed, but I am not positive.

4. I am not sure about the leaves, but if you aren't positive, don't feed them. If they eat a few, it probably won't hurt them, but it is best to be safe rather than sorry.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
That feed is fine, and any time (next bag) you can switch to an all-flock feed, and everyone can eat it forever. Have Oyster shell in a separate feeder for your pullets when they start laying eggs, and all will be well.
Pick a feed that's fresh, by the mill date on each bag, and use it up within two months of that mill date if possible. Old feed isn't so good!
At six weeks of age they don't need that heat lamp! Can't they be in the coop with their feed and water?
They should have grit available, from the feed store, unless they are out on gravel type soil.
Mary

 

[Freeloading slacker]

Answer 1.The food that you have for them is just fine.

Answer 2. I'm not sure what the question is. Are you asking if you should be moving them to the coop if so then it should it should be fine as long as they are not shivering.

Answer 3. Rooster's can have layer feed is just fine for them the only difference between normal chicken feed and layer feed is that layer feed has more calcium and protein.

Answer 4. If you're not sure about feeding them it I wouldn't give it to them there are plenty of other treats you can buy or make including strawberries, blueberries, bananas, cabbage, kale, mangos. You can also buy treats including sunflower seeds ,mealworms, dried mealworms, and dried crickets. You can also make treats I like to get a toilet paper roll cover it in peanut butter and roll it in sunflower seeds.

 

[maggieandotis]

Answer 1.The food that you have for them is just fine.

Answer 2. I'm not sure what the question is. Are you asking if you should be moving them to the coop if so then it should it should be fine as long as they are not shivering.

Answer 3. Rooster's can have layer feed is just fine for them the only difference between normal chicken feed and layer feed is that layer feed has more calcium and protein.

Answer 4. If you're not sure about feeding them it I wouldn't give it to them there are plenty of other treats you can buy or make including strawberries, blueberries, bananas, cabbage, kale, mangos. You can also buy treats including sunflower seeds ,mealworms, dried mealworms, and dried crickets. You can also make treats I like to get a toilet paper roll cover it in peanut butter and roll it in sunflower seeds.

QUESTION 2. I have them in the coop now and put a heat lamp on at night and make sure they are in the box (I think it is called a brooder box but circled it in attached photo) and shut them in for the night. Do I move the food and water up in the box with them when they go to bed or leave it on the floor down below where they hang out during the day.

 

[maggieandotis]

Welcome!
That feed is fine, and any time (next bag) you can switch to an all-flock feed, and everyone can eat it forever. Have Oyster shell in a separate feeder for your pullets when they start laying eggs, and all will be well.
Pick a feed that's fresh, by the mill date on each bag, and use it up within two months of that mill date if possible. Old feed isn't so good!
At six weeks of age they don't need that heat lamp! Can't they be in the coop with their feed and water?
They should have grit available, from the feed store, unless they are out on gravel type soil.
Mary

I have them in the coop now and close them in at night in the brooder box and turn the heat lamp on for them. They still have a little bit of fluff on them and I had read that if they still have some fluff on them, they are not fully feathered and they should have a heat lamp on if the temperatures dip below 65. Am I being too overprotective? Would love to save the electricity if it is not needed. Temperatures are in the low 50s at night.

 

[maggieandotis]

Hi!

1. It looks like that feed is starter/grower, so it should be fine for them until they lay their first eggs. Once they lay their first egg, switch them to layer feed.

2. I do this until my chicks start to lay their eggs. Once they start laying, I leave water in the coop and food in the run. This is because I sometimes don't let the chickens out until seven, and they wake up at the crack of dawn! Another option is to give your chicks mash at night in the brooder, so if they wake up, they have some food and water.

3. I believe you can give roosters layer feed, but I am not positive.

4. I am not sure about the leaves, but if you aren't positive, don't feed them. If they eat a few, it probably won't hurt them, but it is best to be safe rather than sorry.

Thank you so much!

 

[Chicken Heel]

Your birds look nice and healthy. You'll have eggs before you know it so enjoy the journey.

 

[Freeloading slacker]

I would just keep the food in the coop that's what we do and the most they have ever done is spilled a bit of food but they always eat it later. With the water it can stay down in the run as long as you are letting them out every morning.

 

[maggieandotis]

Your birds look nice and healthy. You'll have eggs before you know it so enjoy the journey.

I am loving every minute of it. You made me so happy sharing that. =D