Help, feeding question!

[basketmom]

I have 9 week old chicks in with my laying hens. I can't keep my chicks out of the layer feed, I have tried everything. I heard it is really bad if they are eating the laying feed, so can I switch everyone (laying hens) to the medicated chick starter until the chicks are old enough to switch over? I don't know what else to do

 

[Kittymomma]

You can just put them all on gamebird or flockraiser and then keep oyster shell out free choice for the laying hens so they get their calcium. I also keep corid on hand in case of a cocci outbreak with the chicks. It hasn't happened yet, but I feel better knowing the meds are on hand if needed.

 

[basketmom]

So is it bad to give them all chick starter? I already bought a large bag and would prefer to use it if I can. I also thought about the eggs, and would they be edible?

 

[Kittymomma]

I'd eat eggs from hens that were fed the medicated starter, but I wouldn't sell them. You'll probably get a lot of different opinions on that though. I suppose you could also rig something up that the smaller chicks could get into, but the big girls couldn't and put the starter in there and then hang the big girls feeder up high enough that the youngsters can't easily reach it.

 

[basketmom]

thank you for all your help
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