Integrating flock of different ages ?

[leadwolf1]

I would like to integrate my younger chicks, ages 12 and 16 weeks into the main flock. My question is, my older chickens are on layena and the younger ones, flock raiser. I do not want to change the older chickens food...is is safe at these ages to allow the younger chicks to eat the layena? I don't have a smaller coop setup so these chicks are still in my house!!! Help!

 

[Animalian]

I have heard it is ok to feed the whole flock the grower/raiser feed and just make sure the older ones have access to as much oystershell as they want.

 

[leadwolf1]

Thank you. However, I would like to do it the other way around and keep the older birds on their layena and integrate the younger ones into the coop eating that. Do to some problems, my vet has recommended not changing the feed for the older birds. So, I was trying to keep the younger birds inside until they were 18 weeks old. I can't do it anymore, they are stinky creatures!!! They must go out!