How do you separate the feed for the chicks vs layers?

[tryingtohaveitall]

I've read and read on here but I still haven't really seen a great answer for this. Right now I have 15 pullets and cockerels between 4 1/2 weeks and 6 weeks old. I have a broody sitting on 6 fertile eggs that should hatch ~ May 22nd. I also have 11 laying hens that are a year old. I'm hoping to be able to integrate the current young ones with the hens in time to move the broody hen and her eggs/chicks into their current cage. What do you do for the feed though? Do you switch to an unmedicated grower feed for all and find a place for the laying hens to have separate calcium?

Also, I've read it's easier to integrate the chicks with their mama into the flock, but what do they eat? How do you give the chicks the medicated feed and the hens the layer feed?

 

[Sjisty]

I'm sure my way is wrong, but I have chick starter and layer, flock grower, and scratch all available. I have two mammas with nine chicks between them in the coop with the grown-ups. Sharing the same coop are three ducks and a goose. There's no way to separate the different foods, so I just put it all in there and hope for the best. They all free range during the day and get lots of bugs and things, too. One of the babies caugh a little frog almost as big as he was the other day. It was fun to watch him running around with his siblings giving chase. When I put feeder fish in the baby pool for the ducks and goose, some of my chickens are right there fishing for their share, too.

 

[Julie08]

thats what I do too, its a free for all, the only thing I dont leave out is medicated chick starter if I have ducklings as well. So I leave out duck starter/grower scratch and laying mash.

I'm sure it is not "correct" but it works for me. I guess if you were really concerned you could hang the feeder to high for the chicks to get at the adult food but I dont bother.

 

[jofos]

I usually keep my chicks seperate until they are about 10 weeks old. I take out the broody hen at about six weeks. It can be a problem if you don't have enough places to keep them. Right now I have 4 hens with chicks from 5 weeks old to 1 day old ( 8 hatched yesterday) and I have two more hens going broody. This weekend I'll have tow build to more cages to put the hens in.

 

[klf73]

I was told to just feed everyone non medicated chick crumbles...

 

[Airilith]

Quote:
That's what I plan on doing! This week I'll be intergrating my two flocks (8wk olds and 25wk olds). My local feed stock sells unmedicated starter in any quantity I want. So I don't have to buy a whole 50lb bag.

 

[gryeyes]

My adolescent chicks and ducks get grower/finisher feed. The adolescents are segregated with their own feeders. I have chicks in the brooder, they get chick starter. The 9 adult chickens (8 pullets and a roo) have layer feed in the coop, but they've been eating the grower/finisher set out for the ducks.... so I've added oyster shell in a cup in the coop, and occasionally toss some out for the hens when they are all gathered in a group (and the ducks are off wandering).

When I first fill one small feeder for the ducks, I add some brewer's yeast to it, when the ducks are right there to eat first before any of the chickens. That way I know they're getting it for their niacin needs.


When the time comes I have all the chickens/adolescents and current chicks old enough to be integrated, I'll switch entirely to grower/finisher or "general purpose" feed, and supplement with the oyster shell in the same manner.

 

[TXmom]

I just bought a bag of Purina Flock Raiser...I think it's good for everyone to eat. And I have Oyster shell free choice in a separate bowl, and throw grit on the ground in the run for any of them to pick up as they need it.

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

That sounds like a good plan, to switch to the grower. Trying to figure out how to keep them all separated was making my head hurt.

I'll use up what I have of both the layer and chick grower while they're still separate, then switch to the grower for the next several weeks til they're closer to POL. Thanks!

 

[Julie08]

Quote:
That's what I plan on doing! This week I'll be intergrating my two flocks (8wk olds and 25wk olds). My local feed stock sells unmedicated starter in any quantity I want. So I don't have to buy a whole 50lb bag.

that works!