Mixed age pullets and few types of food available

[grateful]

We have 27 8weekers of 5 different breeds and I just bought 6 Black Copper Marnas that re 14 weeks. The only food available to us is 1) medicated chick starter, 2) layer crumbles, 3) meat bird finishers. I can’t for the life of me find a flock grower. The AG Depot said to feed them all the Layer Feed. Will it have to much Calcium? And I thought I am suppose to wait until the start laying to give them that. Any thoughts with the three choices I have? Thanks for all the help upfront…..

Travis
Bozeman , Montana

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

At the age that yours are at right now I would keep them on Starter feed until the Marans are about 18 to 20 weeks old. At that point you can start mixing layer feed into the starter until the Marans either start laying or they reach about 24 weeks old and then go to just layer. We have mixed age birds all together and so ours start eating layer at 8 weeks when they go to the main pen. We also throw out some starter on the ground by the youngest chicks just so they will be more apt to eat that. But we have had no physical problems so far.

 

[grateful]

Thanks for the reply. Is it bad to give the "medicated" for so long? I was under the impression we needed to switch off that after a couple bags.

 

[frogs n chickens]

Glad to see this thread as I have been reading so much on here regarding too much calcium in the layer feed. I have checked multiple feed stores and all I could find were the same choices you were presented with. My chicks are 14 to 20 weeks in age and free range on my 5 acres through the day and are only eating the layer and medicated starter crumble when they go back to the coop a couple of time a day; otherwise it is bugs, seeds and grass.
Every feed store guy I have talked to has always pointed me to the layer feed.

 

[Davaroo]

Give them all the grower until the Marans are 20-24 weeks. Switch them to layer feed and the others should be alright. They will be 18 weeks or so by then and the calcium shouldnt be a bother. Its chicks that cannot handle it. By the time a pullet is nearing lay, she can process it.

If you feel worried, mix their feed half and half and place a dish of oyster shell grit before them. The pullets that are to lay will take what they want of it and those not yet laying, wont.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Travis
Answer to your question about the medicated
We feed ours only the medicated and have had no problems. We also give them a dose of Sulmet in their water once a month until they start to lay. We have run about 450 birds through here in the last year and everybody has healthy happy birds so far.