Integration very young and feed issues

[Chicalina]

I know this topic has been done to death but I have a specific question.

I've got 3 week old chicks with a broodie, and another hatch due this week with another. They are both housed in rabbit hutches inside the coop run with wire fronts so the older flock are in view.

I like the idea of integrating the chicks when young, as I agree with the theory that they will be more accepted when they aren't old enough to be perceived as competition, and they also have their mother to protect them.

But...they are on chick crumbs atm, then need to progress to grower pellets. The flock is on layer pellets which are not suitable. How do I feed them separately if they are all together?

 

[featheredplanets]

Put them all on to one feed. You can either feed them all unmedicated chick crumb or find an all flock feed, then offer a dish of oyster shells for the layer’s calcium needs. Growers isn’t a necessary step but you can also feed that to everyone, as long as it’s unmed and you have a calcium source for the laying hens.

 

[Chicalina]

I hadn't thought of putting them all on the chick starter or growers, thank you. Would it mean the hens stop laying?

I use medicated chick starter which the broodie is eating with them. Why should the flock not have medicated?

 

[DobieLover]

I hadn't thought of putting them all on the chick starter or growers, thank you. Would it mean the hens stop laying?

I use medicated chick starter which the broodie is eating with them. Why should the flock not have medicated?

No, the hens won't stop laying if you take them off layer mix. Hens don't lay because of the feed they are on. The feed and supplements given them should support their laying.
I use Flock Raiser for the full life of the flock with multiple containers of oyster shell in high traffic zones for the active layers. It suits all combinations of birds in the flock.

I wouldn't worry too much about taking the chicks and mom off the medicated starter either. Just watch them closely for any signs of coccidiosis and act immediately if you see anything.

You need to get mom and her chicks out with the flock. Most broodies take their chicks out when they are moving around strong. Less than a week old. I assume you have ample room for them in your coop and run? Mom will protect them if needed. I have found that broodies will not tolerate pullets/cockerels anywhere near their chicks and run them off immediately even if the pullet/cockerel is unaware of the chicks. I've seen pullets slammed from behind and sent on their not so merry way when a broody spots one too close.

 

[Chicalina]

Thanks for your reply. I would want to use medicated feed to prevent the disease rather than allow the disease to flourish and then treat it, having perhaps lost some birds to it first.

Would medicated feed harm the older hens? Would I just have to toss their eggs? That would end up being for many weeks so not really practical.

Maybe if I mix them all together at 6 weeks on grower pellets, then they would be off medication. Is that too late for them to be still young and in care of the broodie?

 

[GC-Raptor]

Would medicated feed harm the older hens? Would I just have to toss their eggs?

If the active ingredient is Amprolium, the hens will be OK and the eggs are safe to eat.

Info from Nutrena.

GC

 

[aart]

I like the idea of integrating the chicks when young, as I agree with the theory that they will be more accepted when they aren't old enough to be perceived as competition,

This is only applies when the chicks do not have broody.

and they also have their mother to protect them.

Yep, mama will protect them..... until she weans them.
Then things can get dicey, can be hard to watch.

Have never fed medicated, have never fed layer feed.
Purina Flock Raiser for all, with Oyster Shell in separate feeder for the active layers.

 

[Chicalina]

@GC-Raptor
thanks so much. I've messaged the feed store to ask. This good was packaged up by them and not labelled with ingredients

 

[bobbi-j]

I have my whole flock on unmedicated grower as well. Never had a problem with disease.

I prefer to integrate as early as possible while Mama is still protective. Some wean their chicks by 4 weeks, so you could be pushing it already.

 

[Chicalina]

Purina Flock Raiser for all, with Oyster Shell in separate feeder for the active layers.

Thanks. I don't think I can get that here.