Introduction and feeding of 8 week old pullets

[SwiftJim]

Greetings BYC,

I have 2 8 week old chicks (a Barnevelder and a Silver Wyandotte) that are getting to a stinking real quick in their brooder box inside, and we are looking to get them outside sooner rather than later.

We have 2 19 week old pullets in the coop, that are eating commercial layer mash. Every thing I have read suggests that layer mash is probably not real good for the little girls. What do other people do to feed them different feed? We both work, so hand feeding through the day is difficult.

We have started to introduce them over the past couple of weeks with the big girls free ranging and the little ones in a bird cage so they can have a chat. Would it be unwise to just drop them in the coop and see what happens?

Thanks all. ;-)

 

[Percheron chick]

8 weekers should of been out weeks ago. As far as the feed, remove the layer. Put out the rest of the baby food with either egg or oyster shells on the side. When you finish that bag either buy one more bag of grower or switch everyone to the layer depending upon how old the little ones are. You should have around 30# left in a 50# bag and that should last you almost a month. a little early to switch them but your call.

Go for it.

 

[SIMZ]

I think it would be unwise to put them in the coop. I think the big chickens would kill or injure the little ones. Maybe it's different with a smaller flock, but I doubt it. Even if things go well during the day outside, it could go very bad in the coop.

Are you able to give the little ones a secure area and coop space inside the existing coop/run? That also makes feeding easier because you can keep the feeders separate. Here is what I do and it has worked really well: I have a small hutch/coop in the chicken run that I put my little guys in that I want to integrate. I surround their coop with some field fencing (surrounded by poultry wire/plastic fence if they can get through at first). If they're older like yours, I bend little sections of the fence so only the little ones can go in and out. This allows the little ones to mingle, but be able to have a safe place to run to that the big ones can't get to. Only after the chicks are about 12-14 weeks will I remove the fence entirely.

 

[SwiftJim]

Thanks all,

As suspected, there is tension amongst the critters. We had our bigger two free ranging, and the two little ones in the coop. One of the little ones scurried out the door, and was immediately chased down by the two bigger ones and copped a couple of pecks to the head and lost a couple of feathers.

So it would seem that we need to come up with a solution to get them spending more time together but still keep the little ones safe...

Fencing off inside the run would be relatively simple, coming up with a temporary shelter, I am not so sure on. I am handyman inadequate...

 

[SIMZ]

Thanks all,

As suspected, there is tension amongst the critters. We had our bigger two free ranging, and the two little ones in the coop. One of the little ones scurried out the door, and was immediately chased down by the two bigger ones and copped a couple of pecks to the head and lost a couple of feathers.

So it would seem that we need to come up with a solution to get them spending more time together but still keep the little ones safe...

Fencing off inside the run would be relatively simple, coming up with a temporary shelter, I am not so sure on. I am handyman inadequate...

Dog crate? Small Rabbit cage? Just make sure you cover any spaces bigger than an inch with hardware cloth to keep them safe from predators (weasels, raccoons). Good luck!

 

[bradymars]

As far as feed you don't feed layer feed to babys use a good chick starter till the recommended age.If they are not production breeds you really don't need to feed layer feed just supply oyster shell when they start laying.When layer feed is fed to baby chicks it can damage the kidneys ,liver ,bone problems and even death there is just to much calcium in the layer feed.You can make your own feed mix buy using a good pellet like breeder pellets and mix grain in it to get the right protein level for the different ages.Hope this helps..

 

[rsfsmith1]

Greetings BYC,

I have 2 8 week old chicks (a Barnevelder and a Silver Wyandotte) that are getting to a stinking real quick in their brooder box inside, and we are looking to get them outside sooner rather than later.

We have 2 19 week old pullets in the coop, that are eating commercial layer mash. Every thing I have read suggests that layer mash is probably not real good for the little girls. What do other people do to feed them different feed? We both work, so hand feeding through the day is difficult.

We have started to introduce them over the past couple of weeks with the big girls free ranging and the little ones in a bird cage so they can have a chat. Would it be unwise to just drop them in the coop and see what happens?

Thanks all. ;-)

I use a quality starter grower until they reach 18 weeks.