"Grower" and "Layer" feeds

[AllChookUp]

I have some 11-week-old teens that I believe are about ready to move in with the 3 adult chickens. I think they will get along well, and the teens are showing that they really want to be in the adults' coop and run when they are out ranging.

I forsee one major dilemma tho - The 11-week-olds are on "Grower" feed, and the adults are on "Layer" feed.

How do I handle this if I mix the birds together in one living quarters? Or is the answer just wait until the teens are about ready to start laying? That won't be until November, and being it gets cold here by then, I want them in the big coop long before that.

What say you all?

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[Buff Hooligans]

I seem to recollect that this question has been raised before, but I never paid attention to the answers because it didn't pertain to our flock... That's a tough thing to do a search on because what words would you use?

I'm sure if you asked your chickens, they'd say "forget the pellets, hand over the grapes and oatmeal!".

 

[AllChookUp]

LOL! I'm sure that's what they're ALREADY saying to me!

Yes, I've tried searching, but there's so much to search thru, and the keyword combos are difficult.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Okay, I took a stab at searching - the consensus seems to be that it is okay for older birds to eat starter/grower, but not okay to feed the young ones layer food (too much calcium and other things of some sort). The other definite thing is to start layer food at 18 weeks.

So if I were in your situation (different ages in one coop), I'd just put everybody on grower until the young ones are old enough for layer. I can't imagine it would hurt the older ones to be on grower for seven weeks (especially if you offer them other sources of calcium).

Gotta go get another cup of coffee now - this is way too much brain action for me so early on a Monday morning.

 

[I*Eat*Chickens*Yum]

I would put them all on Grower and offer up a oyster shell calcium supplement so the layers will get the needed calcium. They take what their body needs.

 

[AllChookUp]

Thanks Buff Hooligans & IECY. That makes a lot of sense. The layers will suppliment their needs with the other sources of calcium I offer them.

Thank you!

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