Integrated layers with not yet layers....how do I feed them both?

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
I feed Grower to mixed aged flocks with oyster shell on the side when one group is laying and one is not. It does not matter if the younger are being integrated with the older or the older integrated with the younger. If you are not going to integrate them until they are both laying age, then you can feed Layer to both. Some people feed Grower or Flock Raiser all the time, with oyster shell on the side, regardless of their age. I feel like I'm missing something here.

You will find that different people handle integration differently. I start at 8 weeks. Some people start at 4 weeks. Some don't start until 20 weeks. We have different strategies, we have different circumstances and conditions, and each flock has its own dynamics. Different things work for different ones of us. Mine don't always take a beating, but I've got a lot of room and I ease into it.

I don't feed Layer to growing chickens because the extra calcium can damage their kidneys or damage their skeleton. Not that it does each and every time, and not that they are going to fall over dead or start walking funny the instant they take a bite of Layer. A little won't hurt them. Some can handle more than others. But a steady diet of Layer can cause problems. Many will never show damage, but some may fall over dead a year later, when the damaged kidneys finally give out.

 

[ddmiddle7]

So then I will go ahead and buy the layer feed and oyster shell for the older two. Right now I let my younger girls free range the yard from the time I get home until they put themselves to bed around 9pm. But I am keeping the two older girls in a 6x8 dog kennel for now. Do you think it would be safe to at least let them free range together in the yard? Or should I only do it when I can watch them? Obviously I would watch them for a few days at first and if I saw some bullying I would put the the older girls back in the cage. I just want to make sure it goes smoothly and not have anyone hurt. I can keep them in the shed for a little while longer I planned to integrate them at 16 weeks which is in three weeks, maybe I should wait another couple weeks after that and see how it goes. I just figured if they could free range together until I put them in the same coop so they could get used to each other.
I also have to change my roost around and plan on going to a double ladder style roost. From what I have read I should provide a lower roost for the BO since she is so much heavier then the other breeds. Should I wait to put the new roost in right when I add the two new ones to the coop or should I go ahead and put it in now and let the younger girls get used to it?

Thanks again.

 

[ddmiddle7]

Quote:
I feed Grower to mixed aged flocks with oyster shell on the side when one group is laying and one is not. It does not matter if the younger are being integrated with the older or the older integrated with the younger. If you are not going to integrate them until they are both laying age, then you can feed Layer to both. Some people feed Grower or Flock Raiser all the time, with oyster shell on the side, regardless of their age. I feel like I'm missing something here.

You will find that different people handle integration differently. I start at 8 weeks. Some people start at 4 weeks. Some don't start until 20 weeks. We have different strategies, we have different circumstances and conditions, and each flock has its own dynamics. Different things work for different ones of us. Mine don't always take a beating, but I've got a lot of room and I ease into it.

I don't feed Layer to growing chickens because the extra calcium can damage their kidneys or damage their skeleton. Not that it does each and every time, and not that they are going to fall over dead or start walking funny the instant they take a bite of Layer. A little won't hurt them. Some can handle more than others. But a steady diet of Layer can cause problems. Many will never show damage, but some may fall over dead a year later, when the damaged kidneys finally give out.

Thanks so much I don't want to take the chance of hurting any of the chickens and this is just another reason why I love this site. I had no idea that Layer feed could damage younger pullets' kidneys. Well I guess I will be buying another bag of starter/grower instead of the layer feed and just provide the older two with a seperate container in their temporary coop of oyster shell. I will just let them free range monitored carefully at first and take it slow. I honestly didn't realize how much smaller my girls are than the two new older ones until I got them both in the back yard at the same time. I have seen the two new ones plenty of times at my friends house before I took them. I was shocked at how much bigger they were...not really in height but in body size. The new ones are so thick and beefy(chickeny) looking compared to my little girls.

 

[saladin]

I mentioned 'the beating' and it was refered to by another poster. It may or may not happen based on the breed and room as was stated.


Now that you have clarified things (or maybe I just didn't get it!) there is a much great reason for caution than either the feed or the beating.


Every flock has its' own cocci and other 'germs.' Introducing 2 older pullets with younger pullets that are from different places can be lethal to the younger birds. Doesn't have to be, but it sure can be.


Here's an example:
Years ago I developed the meanest strain of coryza you have ever seen. Thru lots of struggle I finally have it under control with seldom (like never) a sick chicken. However, I have given birds to friends/sold birds etc (I always tell them to quarantine my birds). Some have placed them right with their flock and then they call me 2 weeks later to tell me all their chickens are dying (except mine which are both carriers and immune). I always ask if they did as I said. If they have sick birds then the answer is always NO.

(NOTE: my young birds are kept separate from the main flock and don't appear to be carriers. I have to wait until they are 20 weeks for integration or THEY WILL DIE; at least many of them. At 20 weeks they are strong enough to not show symptoms of the disease and thrive).

You don't know what these other 2 will introduce to your young birds: perhaps nothing........... You sure you want to take the risk? By the way, these 2 do not need to have ever shown signs of illness to be carriers of contagions.

Just saying: be careful. With Animal Husbandry it is known as Bio-security.