Hens temporarily on chick feed?

[Chick-N-Fun]

Flock raiser or grower feed is an excellent feed for all ages and genders in a flock. Just be sure to provide oyster shell in a separate container. Good luck with your chickens!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A temporary shift in nutrition won't be anything to freak out about.
The younger the birds are the worse the effects of excessive calcium but they won't drop dead immediately. All poultry do fine on about 1% calcium which is in all feed except layer. Unless a bird is regularly building egg shells they have to process the 4% calcium in layer by the kidneys and over time it will cause the 6 kidney segments to deteriorate. That can't be reversed. They won't exhibit any symptoms and will continue to lay eggs till they are down to 1 segment and they usually just drop dead with no symptoms.
The starter/grower feed won't have any negative effects on the adult pullets/hens unless they are laying eggs. In that case they have to get some calcium or they will deplete body/medullary bone stores in short order.
Since roosters don't lay eggs, the same applies to them.

 

[Kat2141]

That’s what I thought.
I think next time we’ll get an all flock or starter/grower for all with oyster shells on the side.
I think it will benefit not only my chicks but also my bantams ages 9 and 4-5.

My chicks are 10 weeks and the hens have been eating the grower the whole time because the chicks have been with them since day one. They have oyster shell on the side but prefer when I bring out the dried egg shells from what eggs we've used. I did notice that the eggs are slightly smaller than normal but that's ok for now.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Do layer and chick feed ‘taste’ differently? Well what I meant to say is..will the hens be sensitive to a diet change? They have been eating dumor 16% layer their entire lives.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have no idea if they taste different - all I can tell you is a few years ago, I had all adults so thought I would switch to layer feed. I tried a slow transition but mine absolutely refused that feed, it was fresh, made by the same company I normally buy from - I left the feed and gave nothing else for a couple of days (no treats period, just feed and water). My chickens drank water all day for a couple of days, they refused to eat and complained loudly.
They won! If by chance the store is out of Flock Raiser, they will happily eat chick starter instead...maybe it's the protein content, maybe they are spoiled - I'm just not sure

 

[Shadrach]

I think there are a couple of important points.
While some studies may show layer feed for chicks may have some negative long term effects, it seems that layer feed for roosters definitely has. So if you have cockerels then maybe some extra thought on diet (?)
One of the important things about chick starter feed is it helps the chick to build an immunity to Coccidiosis. I have yet to read any reliable information on how long it take of eating starter feed to build sufficient immunity.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think there are a couple of important points.
While some studies may show layer feed for chicks may have some negative long term effects, it seems that layer feed for roosters definitely has. So if you have cockerels then maybe some extra thought on diet (?)
One of the important things about chick starter feed is it helps the chick to build an immunity to Coccidiosis. I have yet to read any reliable information on how long it take of eating starter feed to build sufficient immunity.

Chick starter will only have an effect on coccidiosis if it is medicated. Non medicated starter feed would be no different than an all flock feed on that protozoa.
Medicated Feed containing a cocciodistat is clearly marked on the bag and the guaranteed analysis tag - in the US at least.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

... They have been eating dumor 16% layer their entire lives.

Their entire lives? Even when they were chicks or when they started laying?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of the important things about chick starter feed is it helps the chick to build an immunity to Coccidiosis. I have yet to read any reliable information on how long it take of eating starter feed to build sufficient immunity.

Not all chick feeds in the US contain a Coccidiostat, so...
A chick can build natural resistance to the strains of Coccidia found in their environment if introduced early on - I like to give them a plug of sod along with dirt from the runs they will be living in to introduce them to different pathogens and bugs. I do keep a Coccidiostat on hand as well just in case a bird gets overloaded.

 

[Shadrach]

Chick starter will only have an effect on coccidiosis if it is medicated. Non medicated starter feed would be no different than an all flock feed on that protozoa.
Medicated Feed containing a cocciodistat is clearly marked on the bag and the guaranteed analysis tag - in the US at least.

Not all chick feeds in the US contain a Coccidiostat, so...
A chick can build natural resistance to the strains of Coccidia found in their environment if introduced early on - I like to give them a plug of sod along with dirt from the runs they will be living in to introduce them to different pathogens and bugs. I do keep a Coccidiostat on hand as well just in case a bird gets overloaded.

'

I wasn't aware of this. All the starter feeds I have used here have been medicated. I assumed this was standard everywhere. Thanks for the clarification.