how to keep hens from stealing chick starter

[lauralou]

A creep feeder.

Brilliant idea!

I must make one.

 

[upthecreek]

I'd go with this person's suggestion ; let the hens eat it , they will produce more eggs , live longer , have better plumage and be much more healthy . Once they have been eating it a while they will slack off in the amount they are eating (what's happening their bodies is catching up on what they really need) .
Now they will eat no more money wise than the other layer whatchmacallit feed cost , just remember to have oyster shell allways availiable and Fresh Cool Water .
Love your chickens take care of them !!!


Quote:

 

[ams3651]

i get my adult feed from the feed mill, its much cheaper than the chick starter I have to get at TSC because the mill only sells 100pound and I dont want 100 pound of starter for 4 chicks. Plus when they eat the starter they leave the chicks without any food in their feeder. Its not preference in food for the hens, its just handy to eat theirs first.

 

[TexasHeifer]

This is what I do for mine

 

[Glenda Heywoodo]

Is it a problem to let the hens eat the chick feed and offer oyster shell so the hens can get the calcium they need?

Chicks should not have Oyster Shell.
They can have grit.
Too much oyster shell is hard on their liver.

set the oyster shell up on a box the height that hens can eat but not the chicks.

 

[Glenda Heywoodo]

This is what I do for mine

Excellent example and very handy.

 

[rebrascora]

You could just turn a clear plastic box/tote upside down and sit the edges on bricks or short off cuts of wood with the feeder inside, leaving a gap or two so that the chicks can duck underneath to get the feed and the hens can't. Make sure to put a brick on top so that it doesn't get knocked off.

 

[debid]

I put everyone on a 20% unmedicated starter/grower and hang a dish of oyster shell. The hens still want to eat from the chick feeder because it's different than their feeder but they can only get to it during range time when everything is open. There is a door in their way the rest of the time. Without seeing your setup, I'm not sure how you could put a barrier up to keep all the hens except one out of it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I also provide the same feed for everyone and offer oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the extra calcium seem to know to eat enough for their egg shells while the ones that don’t need it (rooster, chicks, juveniles, and hens not laying) don’t eat enough to harm themselves.

I’ve seen broody hens scoop feed out of a high feeder for their chicks. I regularly see 2-week-old chicks fly up to a high feeder so they can eat from it. I know of no way to prevent the chicks from eating anything the older hen scan get to if they share the same space.

I also see the adults preferring to eat out of anything I put where the chicks can easily reach it, even if it is the same exact feed. I built this creep feeder to put over one of those long red chick feeders. The chicks can go in through the ends but the adults can’t eat. My broody hens quickly learn to take their chicks to this as soon as I let them out in the morning so they can eat without disturbance. But usually by three weeks or so it’s not needed. By then the chicks are eating out of the feed set up for the older hens. The broody hen is pretty good at keeping the other adults away while her babies are eating.

 

[Glenda Heywoodo]

I also provide the same feed for everyone and offer oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the extra calcium seem to know to eat enough for their egg shells while the ones that don’t need it (rooster, chicks, juveniles, and hens not laying) don’t eat enough to harm themselves.

I’ve seen broody hens scoop feed out of a high feeder for their chicks. I regularly see 2-week-old chicks fly up to a high feeder so they can eat from it. I know of no way to prevent the chicks from eating anything the older hen scan get to if they share the same space.

I also see the adults preferring to eat out of anything I put where the chicks can easily reach it, even if it is the same exact feed. I built this creep feeder to put over one of those long red chick feeders. The chicks can go in through the ends but the adults can’t eat. My broody hens quickly learn to take their chicks to this as soon as I let them out in the morning so they can eat without disturbance. But usually by three weeks or so it’s not needed. By then the chicks are eating out of the feed set up for the older hens. The broody hen is pretty good at keeping the other adults away while her babies are eating.

This on is ideal for Chicks to go under. Great Idea thanks FOR PUTTING THIS ON.