Integration and Feed question.

[Reurra]

So my 9 week old Australorps are now almost the same size as my 2 PR hens. So they are starting to integrate, and so far everything is going fine. Theres a bit of scuffling since Frightful thinks she is "all that".

My question is, can my 9 week olds eat layer feed, and if not, how do I keep them from eating the layer feed and the hens from eating the grower feed? Or does it even matter?

Should i mix the feeds? I know that layer has calcium and I dont want it to hurt my chicks. Should I be concerned about them eating it? Or should I switch everyone over to grower until the chicks are older?

 

[teach1rusl]

I would just offer the grower (wonder if that's like our Flock Raiser???) to everyone, with oyster shell or crushed egg shell offered free choice so the laying hens can get the calcium that's lacking in the grower. Whether my girls are laying or not, I begin switching over to layer at 16-18 weeks, usually by mixing in, since I always have left overs of both...

 

[Fred's Hens]

Feed everyone grower and offer the calcium on the side, usually oyster shells. Easy as pie.

 

[Reurra]

Thanks Fred, I did that this morning. I tore down the temporary enclosure, since the ladies have met the babies a few times already. theres a little pulling of feathers but nothing terrible. My older hens were debeaked before i got them, so that actually might help in reducing any real damage that they might cause. they only real damage they seem to be able to do is grab feathers and pull, they cant peck. I have the oyster shell out for them, hopefully the chicks dont think its grit lol. I put grit of both sizes ut for them too in a separate dish. So we will see how everything goes!!

 

[chickfamilyonsleepyhollow]

Thanks for the info ... I posted a silimar question late last nite but should have read this one first... I'm on my way out there to get ride of the temporary area for our 8 week old RIR's

the chicks will be happy to roam about the country!!!

 

[Reurra]

Good luck!

So far mine are doing great. the older girls are still huffy and Frightful is witholding her egg of the day. But over all I think they are happy.