NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Grit is available daily, the oyster shells are large.. The 9 week old chicks had no problems at all eating them. Ive just read on here that too much calcium can harm them if they get to much to young and I know the hen needs them to produce the eggs..
Just want to be doing right by my birds..

Thanks..

As a rule I don't give Oyster shell where chicks can get at it. Also everyone in the flock goes on to Chick Starter grower til the youngest gets near laying.

Right now the Del coop is all on Chick starter grower since there are chickens/chicks of various ages. I mix it with water to make a mush so they don't waste it. Waterers are at different levels. One specifically on a rock with smaller rocks/ steps so the chick chicks can get to it.

The Del hens are laying just fine on the grower.

The ducks are still on grower so all that coop gets grower. Hens are laying just fine. Except for two CR's who I think have quit all together. I'm not happy about that.

 

[hugz4all4]

As a rule I don't give Oyster shell where chicks can get at it.  Also everyone in the flock goes on to Chick Starter grower til the youngest gets near laying.  

Right now the Del coop is all on Chick starter grower since there are chickens/chicks of various ages.  I mix it with water to make a mush so they don't waste it.   Waterers are at different levels. One specifically on a rock with smaller rocks/ steps so the chick chicks can get to it.  

The Del hens are laying just fine on the grower.  


The ducks are still on grower so all that coop gets grower. Hens are laying just fine. Except for two CR's who I think have quit all together.  I'm not happy about that. 

Flock raiser is a starter/grower.. They can stay on it until they start laying.
While the hen was still " wild" I had her on layer, but since shes been with my chicks shes been on what they eat and to be honest she seems to pefer that over the layer.. Maybe because she was lacking in her diet when she was stray???.. Shes filled out alot, comfortable enough thats she laying now and is loving the company of the "littles" so Im just gonna leave well enough alone.. thanks everyone who responded for the advice.

 

[Glasshen]

I think a lot of the chickens prefer it, it has about 4% more protein. I used it for a long time, and love the silky feathers they get on the higher protein. But when I started to ferment the feed I decided that I could go back to layer...well, I'm back to Flockraiser.

 

[rancher hicks]

Flock raiser is a starter/grower.. They can stay on it until they start laying.
While the hen was still " wild" I had her on layer, but since shes been with my chicks shes been on what they eat and to be honest she seems to pefer that over the layer.. Maybe because she was lacking in her diet when she was stray???.. Shes filled out alot, comfortable enough thats she laying now and is loving the company of the "littles" so Im just gonna leave well enough alone..

thanks everyone who responded for the advice.

I did not know that about Flock Raiser, if you can believe that.

I've never had a "wild" chicken. They all just love me to pieces. Pieces of corn, pieces of bread, pieces of pizza crust, pieces of lettuce, etc. etc.

 

[hugz4all4]

I did not know that about Flock Raiser, if you can believe that.  

I've never had a "wild" chicken.  They all just love me to pieces.  Pieces of corn, pieces of bread, pieces of pizza crust, pieces of lettuce, etc. etc. 

Lol.. I say wild because she flew the coop at my neighbors house, hung out in my pines for a few weeks and even though I was feeding her for awhile she would only come close enough to eat. Eventually we were able to get her in with my babies....she is a great hen..

 

[hugz4all4]

ok try this =)

Cut a small water or pop bottle in half and nail it to a post near where the chickens feed  (you could use a tunafish can too).  This will keep it up higher so the little ones can't get it and still make it available to the one laying hen.

Thanks!

 

[Lynzi777]

My first little blue Orpington to hatch today, and just came home to 2 splashes that hatched while we were at the park.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Rosita's new babies. The little black one I think is actually going to be blue! Little worried about it, but only time will tell.

 

[Lynzi777]

Rosita's new babies. The little black one I think is actually going to be blue! Little worried about it, but only time will tell.

Looks just like my blue chicks that hatched a little while ago! So cute!!

 

[hugz4all4]

Congrats on the new hatches, both are very sweet!