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Simplechic

Simplechic

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5 Years
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Jul 20, 2014
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Hello from central Ohio everyone! My husband and I bought our first batch of chickens (Golden Comets) in March. Since then, I have been frequenting this website for most valuable information. However, I have not been able to resolve a concern I have with one of the chickens. She basically stopped growing around four weeks (I think). I have read about failure to thrive and thought for sure that she would pass away no later than twelve weeks. She is around 18 weeks now. The other girls started laying this week, and I am now concerned that the layer feed will be harmful to her (she is clearly not able to lay). I have included pics of her as well as the other girls who are all her age. Any input would be greatly appreciated.


 
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from Washington! BYC is the best fowl website you can find.
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I hope you feel glad you signed up! In our flock we have great people and it is always great to have a new member:) In our flock, we have no pecking order!

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By the way, not saying that you will do anything bad, but no fowl play
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It depends on the person. I gave mine layer feed when they were chicks, all are fine.
 
Thanks Frindizzle! I understand about the fowl play. I promise not to peck!

I thought giving layer feed to chickens that aren't laying could cause kidney damage. How old were yours when you started them on layer feed? Do you know if there is a difference between pellets and crumbles?
 
Welcome to BYC! Golden Comets are great chickens; egg laying machines. If your hen is 18 weeks old, it is safe to give her layer feed whether she is laying or not. Perhaps with good care and giving her layer feed she will recover and eventually begin laying for you. Good luck.
 
We started them out on ground up grain, I think it was Barley, soaked for a few days. A few months I think it took until we gave them all Layer feed. We gave them but not a lot before full Layer feed, to get them used to it.:)
 
Alright
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great to have you joining the BYC flock
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BYC has a very useful learning center
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Nothing says you have to give your girls any laying feeds this only has extra calcium and lower protein but you can just as well add your own calcium by crushing up old egg shells and giving them the shells in their feed ...........
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Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Since she is not "normal" and you are not sure what is going on with her internal organs, because the high calcium levels in Layer do cause kidney problems in chicks and some roosters and non-layers, if I wanted to keep her as a pet, I would feed her and your other hens an All-Ages or Flock Raiser type food and have oyster shell on the side for the layers... just to be on the safe side for her.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Layer feed damages chicks' kidneys and is harmful to their reproductive organs. It's recommended to wait to feed it until they are 18 weeks old.

You have an adorable flock!
 

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