mixed ages...what to do????

[cjeanean]

I have all my chickens and chicks together: 18 pullets at 20 weeks, 8 other pullets at 13 weeks, 1 pullet at 10 weeks, and 26 mixed hens and roos at 6 weeks. I'm going to start my older 18 on layer feed since they are at 20 weeks, and I'm wondering what to do about the younger chickens in the coop with them. Can they eat the layer feed, too??? What should I do????

 

[chickorama]

Very young chicks can't process the calcium that the layer feed has. You should start the younger ones on chick grower.

 

[cjeanean]

They have been on chick starter and all purpose poultry crumbles (I just put them out on the 4th of july, and that's when they started eating the all purpose) so what should I do??? I can't separate them....I have two feeders out there, I can put on up high enough for the larger chickens and put the other one low enough for the chicks, but will they know the difference or will the big chickens eat all the other food???

 

[ozark hen]

Either mix the feed in the same feeder or set out separate feeders, which they all will be into anyway. I have several diff. sized chickens mixed together and I mix in one feeder. I only keep my chicks separate with their feed. They seem to be able to find their own feed. In fact, I have some chooks who run when they see me going to feed the piglets....they love to jump in there and eat with the pigs

Those chooks are chubby little buggers, too.

 

[cjeanean]

so if I mix both the layer pellets and the chick feed together they'll eat figure out which to eat???

Edited to add: sorry if I sound like a blonde!!!

 

[Katy]

I feed Purina Flock Raiser and don't have to worry about different ages eating it. I have oyster shell out and the hens that need it eat it.

 

[cjeanean]

that stuff is really expensive, though....I can get both all purpose and layer pellets for a little under 10 for a 40 and 50 lb bag. Should I just leave them all on the all purpose and set out oyster shell free choice???

 

[ozark hen]

Like I said, I mix mine and they all are doing fine. I don't know if they pick out their own or if they all just eat it all...which is what I suspect since the chooks gobble up the pig starter...which I know has to be filled with corn? I haven't read the label just go on the recommendations of pig farmers around here.

 

[cjeanean]

Hmmm, I guess I could try it....I just don't want my chickens getting sick or not developing properly. Either that or I'll just supplement with oyster shell and hopefully just the layers will eat it! Any other ideas, anyone???

 

[ozark hen]

I was really hoping some others would jump on here with their ideas for you. Good luck