Free-ranging multi-age chickens!

[mom2mnem]

How do you manage this? I have some chickens that are over 12 weeks old but not laying yet - they are supposed to be getting one kind of food. And I have chicks that range from 5 to 10 weeks old - needing a different food. But they all free range and get in each other's food! I'm not sure what to do....

 

[SIMZ]

Our local feed mill has a 18% poultry pellet that I use when I have birds of different ages. You could also go with non-medicated Flockraiser or see what is available in your area. I just make sure I have lots of oyster shell available.

 

[AmericanMom]

We switched to all purpose feed for all our flock, I start the babies on crumbles and the adults are on pellets... I haven't fed chick starter for months, ever since I was told by a qualified flock owner that she hadn't done it for years... I have a great healthy flock ranging now from 4 years down to 1 month with 2 Broodies sitting on 12 and 5 eggs....

 

[AmericanMom]

Our local feed mill has a 18% poultry pellet that I use when I have birds of different ages. You could also go with non-medicated Flockraiser or see what is available in your area. I just make sure I have lots of oyster shell available.

Exactly.. I also feed oyster shells on the side...

 

[gryeyes]

I do the same : an All Flock feed for all ages and various types of poultry. I have chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. I do start chicks *I* raise on chick starter but those raised by hens get the All Flock.

The chicks raised by momma hens pick up their immunities from her; chicks I brood need the amprolium to build their immunity to coccidiosis. But that's here, where the cocci are in the soil.

It would far too hard to feed the different ages in the coop their own feed, because hens LOVE chick feed. I can only keep them out of it when chicks are in the brooder bin .

 

[mom2mnem]

Thank you! This was very helpful!