Integration question

[Erin80]

I am integrating 5 new pullets in with my current 1 year old hens. The pullets are 8 weeks old. I’ve had to take one out (and a friend) and put them in the brooder box because she has been picked on so badly that she’s missing tons of feathers on her neck. I’ve sprayed it with that special spray but she needs a break. Anyway, my question is about food. The babies are on chick food and my layers are obviously on layer food. How do I deal with that?? I know people integrate before 6 months of age all the time, so how do we make sure the right chickens are eating the right food?? Thanks!

 

[Aapomp831]

I am in the exact same boat... I have 8 chickens that are a year old integrating with 10 week old chicks. The problem is that the big chickens are obsessed with the baby chick food and will eat all of it if given the chance. I have 2 runs; one is large dog kennel and the other one is just fencing that comes off of the kennel area (you have to go onto the fenced area to access the kennel, therefore making 2 separate runs.
I keep the chick food up and out away most of the day but make sure to go outside and “feed them” 3 to 4 times a day and I accomplish this by distracting my big chickens with meal worms. They come running, I close the kennel door and lock them in and then give the babies about 20 minutes with their food. When they seem satiated, I put it back up and away and open the door so everyone can wander free again. It’s a pain in the you know what but it works for now. And if I can’t separate them, then I feed them and stand by and guard them with a broom handle I use to shoo off my aggressive Bantam rooster (I never hit my girls, but they see the roo run from it so they will stay away).

 

[Mrs. K]

Give everyone chick feed, and feed oyster shell on the side. The chicks will ignore it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Give everyone chick feed, and feed oyster shell on the side. The chicks will ignore it.

This is how I do it. Feed everyone the same thing, a low calcium feed, and offer oyster shell on the side, not mixed in with the feed. You cannot keep the chicks out of the adults feed, within two weeks my chicks are flying up to get to their feeder. Use multiple feeding stations, which you should be doing anyway as you are integrating, so they all can eat.

 

[aart]

Give everyone chick feed, and feed oyster shell on the side. The chicks will ignore it.

I use a 20% protein 'all flock' type feed for all birds...
....Oyster Shell in separate container for the layers.