Keeping layer, starter, and grower feeder separate

[Sarah2020]

Be careful about putting them together with that big of an age difference. Chickens have personalities and it can end badly. I had one who was just a miserable bitch, no way to put it otherwise. Id introduce new chickens who were about her size, but younger and she'd just torment them. She actually chased one around the yard, and into the pen, the poor thing was terrified, hopped up into the roosting box and tried to crawl into the corner, with it's head buried in the corner, terrified. This B, got up there and started pulling feathers out of the younger one and eating them. Id keep them separated as much as possible, in different cages etc. But she'd go out of her way to find and torment them. Two of the original 3 chickens eventually merged with the 3 new ones into one big flock, with a pecking order of course, but the one was just a bully to everyone. I got tired of her and she ended up in the cooking pot, long story short, after she about killed one of the younger ones. She couldn't get along with anyone so didn't need to be there. By younger I am talking an established flock of about a year to year and a half old and putting in chickens that were 24 to 30 weeks or so old, so not tiny ones. I ultimately got rid of a few of the other older ones and now have 3 of the youngsters, and Big Red, I call her, a Rhode Island Red, who is a bit of a queen, definitely the Alpha, but has learned that SHE is the one that will be leaving if there is any more trouble. They all get along great now. Another thing that worked is I kept big red in the small cage for a good week or so, with the younger ones the run of the chicken house, where they all could see each other, were right next to each other, but had wire between them. This way when I did put them back together, big red was like the 'new one' to the 3 flock, and it worked out well this time around.

Sorry, didn't mean to make this about me, but just a cautionary tale to make sure they will get along before keeping them all together. The first few weeks, yes of course there will be quibbling etc, as they re establish a pecking order, but always beware the one bully that can really ruin things. If their size is about the same it can be easier because the new ones can fend for themselves better but if there is a significant size difference, make sure there is plenty of room for the little ones to run and hide to get away from the bigger ones if they start to bully.

aaron

Thank you for sharing! I've got two, separate spaces for the birds run, however I only have one coop. I'm a bit worried about that however, the chicks will be inside until they're old enough to enjoy the coop life so I suppose I have some time to figure that out... What breed was your bully? I've read some breeds don't pair well outside their own breed.

 

[Ascholten]

How long did you allow them to see but not get at each other?

About a week, big red was in a smaller cage literally right next to the main chicken tractor, thee was just a layer of wire between them. After a few days I let the new ones run the yard, after they learned the coop, (I let mine free range) and after them having a day or so to get used to the yard and back into the coop come nightfall. I let big red run with them on say day 5. She went right in with them in the coop that night, and was good until the morning where she wanted to be picky, so right out she went back into her smaller cage for another few days. After that, they got used to running the yard together and get along fine.

She is the lead, and will pick at them, peck at them, and they better not DARE interrupt Big Mama when she's eating but there is no violence with them like with the one that got it's vowels changed.

 

[Ascholten]

Thank you for sharing! I've got two, separate spaces for the birds run, however I only have one coop. I'm a bit worried about that however, the chicks will be inside until they're old enough to enjoy the coop life so I suppose I have some time to figure that out... What breed was your bully? I've read some breeds don't pair well outside their own breed.

I want to say Americana, it was a mostly blonde hen? I got my original 3 from someone who had them established and a year old already. he called one an Americana, the other a Sex Link, and then Big Red who is a Rhode Island Red.

The RI Reds are really good with people but can be a bit of a drama queen. Pushy too!! but I love her. Right now I have a golden comet, who's really friendly, I cant remember the other two, ill have to ask him again one is pure black except for the waddle and comb, which are bright red, and one that looks like a RI Red with a bit of blonde who is another attention queen.

If your coop is something you can get into, get a smaller cage, Tractor Supply has cages for dogs, the medium one is great and only like 30 dollars, you can put it literally inside the coop if it fits, that way they are with each other, seeing each other and getting accustomed to each other w/o being able to beat each other if there is an issue with attitudes.

Aaron

 

[Egghead_Jr]

If you use a chick starter, crumbles, for the entire flock ensure it's non medicated. Many chick feeds are medicated, cost $1.50, and it's not needed in most areas. Non medicated chick starter is an all flock feed. Once the chicks are large enough, about 7 weeks, to take pellet feed change the entire flock over to that for less waste. Turkey/gamebird finisher is a pellet all flock type feed and Purina makes a more expensive feed with "all flock" on the label. You're paying extra for that label telling you it's an all flock. Grower is also an all flock feed as it's non medicated but it's too low in protein in my opinion.

The easy of using one feed for all ages far outweighs the minor trouble of setting up a separate dish of oyster shell for the layers. I don't even do that. I just toss a handful of oyster shell once or twice a week to the layers to eat. You'll know if you are not feeding enough if the egg shells start getting thin.

 

[Sarah2020]

I want to say Americana, it was a mostly blonde hen? I got my original 3 from someone who had them established and a year old already. he called one an Americana, the other a Sex Link, and then Big Red who is a Rhode Island Red.

The RI Reds are really good with people but can be a bit of a drama queen. Pushy too!! but I love her. Right now I have a golden comet, who's really friendly, I cant remember the other two, ill have to ask him again one is pure black except for the waddle and comb, which are bright red, and one that looks like a RI Red with a bit of blonde who is another attention queen.

If your coop is something you can get into, get a smaller cage, Tractor Supply has cages for dogs, the medium one is great and only like 30 dollars, you can put it literally inside the coop if it fits, that way they are with each other, seeing each other and getting accustomed to each other w/o being able to beat each other if there is an issue with attitudes.

Aaron

Oh no! My original three are Amerecaunas too!

 

[Ascholten]

Well, thats not a guarantee they'll be bratty. See how it works, and if they are the same age, from same batch, etc, there's a good chance they'll get along just fine. The only real way to know is to see how they behave and there's always the cooking pot too!

Aaron

 

[Sarah2020]

Well, thats not a guarantee they'll be bratty. See how it works, and if they are the same age, from same batch, etc, there's a good chance they'll get along just fine. The only real way to know is to see how they behave and there's always the cooking pot too!

Aaron

Hahaha! Sadly, ever since becoming a chicken owner I can no longer stomach chicken for food.

 

[SweetLittleChicks]

Hahaha! Sadly, ever since becoming a chicken owner I can no longer stomach chicken for food.

same lol.

 

[Ascholten]

same lol.

Odd, because I'll go out gnawing on a chicken leg and tell them, you keep it up and YOU'LL be next!! when they start pooping on my back porch. The cockatoo Ive threatened to make into a Paco Taco numerous times. He then tells me certain words I can't repeat here

Aaron

 

[rosemarythyme]

Like some of the others I feed everyone the same thing when chicks are around. So while the chicks are very little, it's chick starter + all flock crumble (not to be confusing, but I offer both fermented and dry feed, hence 2 different feeds at same time). The hens LOVE both of those because they're higher in protein and easy to eat. Once they're out of the tiny phase I do grower + all flock, and then when the little ones start laying, I do grower + layer pellets due to the fact that it's less mess and I want to get some extra calcium into some of the birds as I have a few that aren't big fans of oyster shell.

As far as integration, IF you have enough space and set up in advance for it, you may want to try early integration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/