Integrating chicks with hens, FOOD problem

[sheeshshe]

I am currently integrating 2 groups of chicks and also 2 ducks (the 2 ducks flock with one of the groups of chicks), with my hens. So far they're all getting along pretty well, but the hens won't leave the chicks food alone. Is there any other solution to this other than buying grower pellets for everyone and buying oyster shell? or is there some sort of way I can situate the food so that the hens can't get to it? I have the food in the little coop that is in the run of the hens, and I have the fence between the two partially up so they can get away from the hens if they want, so I'd like to be able to keep the food in there, but the hens keep invading their coop to eat their food.

 

[HEChicken]

My solution is a chick "creeper". Here is a link to a blog post I wrote about it along with a picture. This works absolutely wonderfully for me. Right now I have 2 turkeys raising 19 poults between them, plus 4 brooder turkeys and a duckling, plus 4 chicken mothers with their assorted chicks, all free-ranging around the yard with the 100 or so adult birds. The poults, chicks and ducklings are all able to access their feed without it being eaten by the adults, and more importantly, they don't have to compete with the adult birds for their food - once under the creeper, they can take their time eating.
http://selfsufficiencyandotherassortedhijinks.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/creeper-feeding-chicks/

 

[sheeshshe]

ahhhh.... that would work! and it would work easily in this situation. all I would have to do is put the night time door on, but not put it down all the way to the ground. brilliant, thank you!

 

[donrae]

I'm not sure why the hens eating the chicks food is a problem? Chick starter or grower is fine for everyone. I'd be more concerned about the littles eating layer feed and getting too much calcium, potentially causing kidney damage.

 

[Krazzy]

Wow the creeper is a great idea! I hate to see the chickens hogging the expensive chick feed! I will give this a try.

 

[HEChicken]

I'm not sure why the hens eating the chicks food is a problem? Chick starter or grower is fine for everyone. I'd be more concerned about the littles eating layer feed and getting too much calcium, potentially causing kidney damage.

Speaking only for myself, I have two issues with it. One is that chick starter and grower are both a lot more expensive in my area, than layer pellets. If I only had a half dozen birds, the difference wouldn't be significant but I have around 100 and it adds up. Second is that if I feed anything other than layer pellets, I have to supplement with shell. The birds do not seem to care for oyster shell and when I leave it out, they only pick at it, and the shells of their eggs get very thin. I do save up their own egg shells to feed back to them but as I sell a lot of eggs, I don't get most of the shells back, and can't keep up with demand only from the eggs we ourselves eat. So I need to feed layer feed to the laying flock, and the creeper works great for me to have the adults eating the only food available to them - layer pellets - while the juveniles have access to chick starter and later, grower feed. They also free-range 10 acres and eat a lot of grass and bugs - both chicks and adults alike. Without the creeper, I would have to pen youngsters in order to ensure they get the food they need, and they wouldn't learn to forage very well.

 

[sheeshshe]

well, that didn't work. darn it. the hens got in under it anyways. they did the limbo.