Integrated chicks, feeding, and currents laying hens

[rachelcasper7]

Hello!
I have six mature chickens and 15 chicks at 15 weeks old. They have been integrated but I have been having issues with feeding since the chicks don't need the layer feed yet and the the older hens need the calcium. First, I had tried having the chicks eat their food separately and that just caused lots of problems. Chicks were eating the wrong food if they had the chance. The OGs just wanted the chick food and it caused bullying. Now they are all on the chick food and had been doing fine while having calcium supplements available. This last week or so I have been dealing with a broody hen and at the same time there has been one or two of the other OGs that are laying soft shell eggs that break when you touch them when I find them whole. Or I find the yoke remains in the shavings. I am new to chicken keeping this summer and the OGs I inherited early summer and one of them (one of the OGs that is doing it now too) had had an issue for about a week with soft eggs like that but I'm pretty sure it was stress that caused that and it resolved quickly. There has been a lot of adjustments made to our property since the chickens to provide the boundaries they need to give them the safest free ranging experience. But that has died down now and they seem to be much more comfortable. So the questions are: recommendations on the integrated feeding? Thoughts on the soft shells? I may have more chicks coming in October from another family member that will be about 15 weeks then too. So I be doing this all over again! If only my in-laws would stop moving out of state and leaving their chickens! That's two in one year!
Thanks in advance!

 

[SueT]

I feed all my chickens of all ages an all flock feed, (Purina Flock Raiser.). I give oyster shell on the side, those that need it will take it. I’ve been doing this for years as have many others here on BYC.
If I had relatives trying to give me more chickens, I would send them to the poultry swap. I don’t have room for any more.
As for soft shelled eggs, offering oyster shell should help.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So the questions are: recommendations on the integrated feeding? Thoughts on the soft shells?

Welcome to BYC!

I had tried having the chicks eat their food separately and that just caused lots of problems. Chicks were eating the wrong food if they had the chance. The OGs just wanted the chick food and it caused bullying. Now they are all on the chick food and had been doing fine while having calcium supplements available. This last week or so I have been dealing with a broody hen and at the same time there has been one or two of the other OGs that are laying soft shell eggs that break when you touch them when I find them whole.

Since I always have chicks, juveniles, broody's, molter's, and yes roosters.. all my birds get the same feed (Purina flock raiser) with free choice calcium source on the side, year round. Side note the flock raiser has more protein (20%) and amino acids than many of the "chick starters" I've seen.

I do make the calcium source available at several locations to encourage it's uptake (next to the feeder and next to the coop entrance). Most my shells are rock hard. I recently switched from flaked oyster shell to the coral stuff being sold.. but haven't yet determined if there's a difference in my egg shell quality.

The birds do enjoy the slightly crushed (air dried to prevent mold growth) egg shells fed back best.. it doesn't cause egg eaters.

Possible the two OG's laying softee's are getting close to molt and having hiccups??


Finding yolk in the shavings.. possible there's a new layer coming online from those 15 weeks olds??

Heat waves can also cause brittle shells.

For the possibility that they are just still transitioning to the new feed routine.. you might consider giving a fast source calcium to those two ladies (short term).. I wanna say citri cal.. or even tums.. Maybe @azygous will have the time to share how she supplements extra when needed or have other insight to offer. (TIA)

Not knowing YOUR set up, resources, and goals.. I too would probably say thanks but no thanks.. and stick with the birds already on hand (unless I was planning to harvest a good portion of them, even then). Burn out happens and takes an otherwise lovely hobby to hell. When things start to spread or go awry in poultry.. they do so rapidly.. This is true for virus, parasite, and pecking order, hidden nest, broodiness, or other behavioral issues like egg eating etc. Just consider it, consider yourself for real!

Here is a good article regarding the many things that can effect eggs (though probably not all)..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

Hope your softee ladies, straighten out quick and maybe this helps with some ideas.

 

[azygous]

I would continue to feed chick feed to everyone until after the new ones start to lay. Oyster shell on the side. For the hens with shell issues, I automatically give a calcium citrate tablet for such a hen until she's back to good quality eggs.

If these older hens are scheduled to molt, however, molt can cause shell quality issues. It still wouldn't hurt to give the hen the citrate if you can identify which one she is.

 

[rachelcasper7]

Welcome to BYC!


Since I always have chicks, juveniles, broody's, molter's, and yes roosters.. all my birds get the same feed (Purina flock raiser) with free choice calcium source on the side, year round. Side note the flock raiser has more protein (20%) and amino acids than many of the "chick starters" I've seen.

I do make the calcium source available at several locations to encourage it's uptake (next to the feeder and next to the coop entrance). Most my shells are rock hard. I recently switched from flaked oyster shell to the coral stuff being sold.. but haven't yet determined if there's a difference in my egg shell quality.

The birds do enjoy the slightly crushed (air dried to prevent mold growth) egg shells fed back best.. it doesn't cause egg eaters.

Possible the two OG's laying softee's are getting close to molt and having hiccups??


Finding yolk in the shavings.. possible there's a new layer coming online from those 15 weeks olds??

Heat waves can also cause brittle shells.

For the possibility that they are just still transitioning to the new feed routine.. you might consider giving a fast source calcium to those two ladies (short term).. I wanna say citri cal.. or even tums.. Maybe @azygous will have the time to share how she supplements extra when needed or have other insight to offer. (TIA)

Not knowing YOUR set up, resources, and goals.. I too would probably say thanks but no thanks.. and stick with the birds already on hand (unless I was planning to harvest a good portion of them, even then). Burn out happens and takes an otherwise lovely hobby to hell. When things start to spread or go awry in poultry.. they do so rapidly.. This is true for virus, parasite, and pecking order, hidden nest, broodiness, or other behavioral issues like egg eating etc. Just consider it, consider yourself for real!

Here is a good article regarding the many things that can effect eggs (though probably not all)..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

Hope your softee ladies, straighten out quick and maybe this helps with some ideas.

Thanks! Yes, I think it was close to molt because one of the two is really going. I have plenty of calcium out so hopefully that helps as both oystershell and egg shells. I had not thought about crushing the oyster shell some so I'll do that. Had been wondering about the size, so thanks for that! I'm still working on those in-laws but I do have it set up for expansion and with the option of harvesting. Thankfully I still have time.

 

[rachelcasper7]

I would continue to feed chick feed to everyone until after the new ones start to lay. Oyster shell on the side. For the hens with shell issues, I automatically give a calcium citrate tablet for such a hen until she's back to good quality eggs.

If these older hens are scheduled to molt, however, molt can cause shell quality issues. It still wouldn't hurt to give the hen the citrate if you can identify which one she is.View attachment 3279536

I actually have that same bottle in my cupboard. How do you give it to the specific chickens? I know that the one who had had soft shells twice now is more prone to it. I have hard shells from everyone consistently except for this first molt where the other hen also has done it. Thanks for your help!

 

[azygous]

Chickens have no problem swallowing pills of any size. Simply shove it into the beak. The pill will magically disappear.