Mixing hens with 11 week olds what do I feed them? layer pellets?

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OK I just added my two one year old laying hens in with my 11 week old's is it ok to feed everyone layer pellets? Or should I offer both? Is it ok for the hens to be eating the medicated starter? AND I also have three 6 week olds in there as well. What would YOU do???

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I know I'm not suppose to bump my post (sorry) but I was hoping someone could help me out and let me know what is ok for my hens and chicks to eat.

 

[AngelzFyre]

I wouldn't feed medicated feed to the laying hens, it's going to transfer to the eggs, but they could be on grower feed (your chicks are old enough to have that now) if you can only feed one feed and put some oyster shell or aragonite for the laying hens to get to but not the chicks yet until they are laying age.
The chicks shouldn't have layer pellets at all until after 18 weeks or they start laying, because of the added calcium and it's made for laying hens not growing chicks.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OK so the hens will be ok with the grower food? UGH...I left layer feed out there in the hen house...better get up bright and early and remove that. I will have to pick up some grower feed for them now. Now I have chick starter, layer and now grower lol. Ok now the prob is...the chicks can get evreywhere the hens can get...how to mix in oystershell without them getting into it!? This is frustrating!

 

[AngelzFyre]

I keep my oyster shell in one of those metal baby pig feeder dispensers, my grit is in another one beside it by the coop door, up on cement blocks.

Is there any way you could separate the hens daily to let them eat the oyster shell? Just for the next 7 weeks until the 11 wk olds are old enough to start getting some of their own?

Maybe put up a makeshift divider in your run for that length of time and let them just have it when they are outside for the day??? Just a thought.

Wish I could help more but mine are all the same age, so I've not had to feed them different levels of feed at the same time like you'll need to do.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

That's a good idea...I will just let the big hens out to free range a few hours earlier then the rest and offer oyster shell at that time

Never thought of that. Thanks

 

[Sahara]

I feed my hen the starter along with the chicks and also let her out during the day for a few hours.

 

[chickiemom9]

Try feeding everyone flock raiser food. Made for all ages and it won't hurt anyone. Just put out a dish of oyster shell for the layers and you should be good to go.

 

[EweSheep]

I didnt have any problems with my layer and chicks eating chick feed nor suffer any ill effects from eating those eggs.

Flock grower would be your best choice, be sure to put out plenty of grits and oyster shells for them!