New eight week chicks

[Lucy chick]

These are my baby Buff Orpingtons at 3 weeks old. They are eight weeks old now fully feathered. I also have 1 Star hen and 6 black Australorps 2 - 3 years old, still laying. I have had the babies in the same coop with the older hens but blocked with chicken wire so they really can't get to each other. They have been like that for 2 weeks. The older hens watch them and visa versa. I want to open the barrier this week and see what happens. My only dilemma is the food we give the older hens are layer pellets and I don't think the babies should be eating that yet. Right now they are eating grow crumbles. Will the pellets hurt the 8 week chicks? Please help!!

 

[ChickenMammX4]

I would feed them all on grower until the chicks start laying. Put some oyster shell in a bowl to the side for the laying hens. The chicks won't eat it.

 

[aart]

I like to feed a 'flock raiser' 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

[Lucy chick]

Thank you for your information. I just changed the food to grower crumbles and my older australorps love it. I have not integrated the 8 week chicks yet, but plan to this week.