New to BYC and chickens...Indiana

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chick rookie said:
Quote: What most people do is feed a "flock raiser" for mixed flocks. Pullets that are very near to laying can handle layer feed, but chicks and very young birds can not tolerate the calcium levels in the layer feed. Too much calcium on young birds can destroy the liver. Especially the males. Roosters in their older years will have troubles due to all the excess calcium over the years.

Feed a flock raiser feed and keep oyster shell on the side next to the feed so the hens that are laying can get enough calcium. Always keep the calcium close to the feed. The hens will not go looking for it, but will eat more of it if it is in their faces near the feed.
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TwoCrows said:
What most people do is feed a "flock raiser" for mixed flocks. Pullets that are very near to laying can handle layer feed, but chicks and very young birds can not tolerate the calcium levels in the layer feed. Too much calcium on young birds can destroy the liver. Especially the males. Roosters in their older years will have troubles due to all the excess calcium over the years.

Feed a flock raiser feed and keep oyster shell on the side next to the feed so the hens that are laying can get enough calcium. Always keep the calcium close to the feed. The hens will not go looking for it, but will eat more of it if it is in their faces near the feed.
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I have never seen any feed called flock raiser will have to look for it, but my hens that are not laying are 10 mths to a yr old. they are Buff Op's and 1 old leghorn. I don't know why they are not laying but they aint laid the first egg. So maybe I'm ok cause I don't have any young pullets. But still going to look for the " flock raiser " cause this spring I will have.
While we are on feed thing.... I have 2 silikie chicks, is there any special feed they need or will my normal feed I have for the other chickens do just fine?
And I have been told by a couple local farmers that I would have to bring my Silikies inside for the winter (every year all winter long ) ???? I hope not...
 
chick rookie said:
Quote: Chicks need starter feed. You should be able to find that at any feed store. Any feed store that carries the Purina line of chicken feed should have Purina Flock Raiser. It is somewhere around 20% protein feed and can be fed to all birds, chicks included.

I don't keep silkies, but some people will tell you that they are delicate and do take them inside when it gets really cold. However many people don't do this and let them weather out the cold in the coop. I think it boils down to the individual bird. If you feel one may be somewhat weak, you might need to bring that one inside during a big cold snap. But get them back outside as soon as you can so they not only mix back into the flock easy, but will still tolerate the outdoor temps. :-)
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TwoCrows said:
Chicks need starter feed. You should be able to find that at any feed store. Any feed store that carries the Purina line of chicken feed should have Purina Flock Raiser. It is somewhere around 20% protein feed and can be fed to all birds, chicks included.

I don't keep silkies, but some people will tell you that they are delicate and do take them inside when it gets really cold. However many people don't do this and let them weather out the cold in the coop. I think it boils down to the individual bird. If you feel one may be somewhat weak, you might need to bring that one inside during a big cold snap. But get them back outside as soon as you can so they not only mix back into the flock easy, but will still tolerate the outdoor temps. :-)
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O I have my chicks on starter, but once they go out I thought they could start eating scratch and the same layer as the big girls. I dont mind bringing chickens in for a bit when needed but to live for the whole winter would not work,
 

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