layers stealing medicated chick feed

[operator16]

Is this a problem? My gals have been stealing the medicated chick feed I have for the little girls. Do I need to worry about the eggs? I'm not sure what to do about it. Are the eggs safe?

 

[mpguay]

my question exactly- thank you for posting.

 

[PoppiesChicks]

My layers seem obsessed with the chick food. They will sometimes walk back and forth watching the chicks eat on the other side of the fence. I was wondering if it was a deficiency that they had that they really needed the other food.

 

[Arcnadius]

Could the hens like the size of the chick food?

 

[silkiechicken]

Med is usually just amprolum, a thamine blocker that inhibits cocci protozoa from reproducing... no harm done to you or the eggs.

My guess is layers love the chick feed as much as they love cat food, because of the higher protein in it. The cat dish is the first thing my layers go bee-lining for after they are let out.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hens like whatever someone else is eating!!! lol

The only solution is to deny them access to the chicks' feed. Starter is too low in calcium and along with the medication, it isn't right as a diet for the hens, but that doesn't mean they won't gobble it up. Conversely, the chicks should not be eating layer feed either, because of the high calcium.

All birds, of whatever age, can eat flock or grower.