Introducing young pullets to older hens

[marie]

It is time for me to introduce my pullets (16 weeks old) to my older flock. So far I have been feeding the pullets the medicated chick feed. My older hens get 20% layer feed. I have heard that it is not good for young hens that are not laying yet to eat the layer feed because of the calcium in it. Should I stop feeding my laying hens the layer feed and feed all of them a grow feed until the young ones start laying? I think the young ones will start laying in September or October.

 

[eikome]

It is time for me to introduce my pullets (16 weeks old) to my older flock. So far I have been feeding the pullets the medicated chick feed. My older hens get 20% layer feed. I have heard that it is not good for young hens that are not laying yet to eat the layer feed because of the calcium in it. Should I stop feeding my laying hens the layer feed and feed all of them a grow feed until the young ones start laying? I think the young ones will start laying in September or October.

I would take the babies off the medicated feed and feed everyone regular unmedicated grower feed until the young ones are beginning to lay. Be sure to provide free choice oyster shell/calcium for the older ladies to pick up as they need it. That's what's worked for me each time I've put new babies in with the flock with no issues. Good luck with the integration!

 

[Evadig]

It is time for me to introduce my pullets (16 weeks old) to my older flock. So far I have been feeding the pullets the medicated chick feed. My older hens get 20% layer feed. I have heard that it is not good for young hens that are not laying yet to eat the layer feed because of the calcium in it. Should I stop feeding my laying hens the layer feed and feed all of them a grow feed until the young ones start laying? I think the young ones will start laying in September or October.

I feed flock raiser permanently, and provide oyster shell on the side to make up the difference in calcium.

You could also do the same with unmedicated chick feed until the pullets begin to lay, then return to layer feed.

 

[marie]

I would take the babies off the medicated feed and feed everyone regular unmedicated grower feed until the young ones are beginning to lay. Be sure to provide free choice oyster shell/calcium for the older ladies to pick up as they need it. That's what's worked for me each time I've put new babies in with the flock with no issues. Good luck with the integration!

Sounds good. I do have 1/2 bag of medicated feed left. Would it hurt the adult hens for me to mix it with the grower feed until it is gone. It's either that or toss it.

 

[chuckmill83]

It is time for me to introduce my pullets (16 weeks old) to my older flock. So far I have been feeding the pullets the medicated chick feed. My older hens get 20% layer feed. I have heard that it is not good for young hens that are not laying yet to eat the layer feed because of the calcium in it. Should I stop feeding my laying hens the layer feed and feed all of them a grow feed until the young ones start laying? I think the young ones will start laying in September or October.

We never had any issues moving birds over to adult rations at 16 weeks, always just mixed the 2 feeds together for a week for them to adjust to them.

 

[eikome]

Sounds good. I do have 1/2 bag of medicated feed left. Would it hurt the adult hens for me to mix it with the grower feed until it is gone. It's either that or toss it.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall reading somewhere that it's not recommended to mix medicated and unmedicated feed together. It's probably better to just use up the bag of medicated feed, then switch to unmedicated.