Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[lindz8504]

I want to work it that way but worry about the feed situation. I have no way of controlling who eats what if they are all in together.

Currently, I am feeding both the chicks and Rosie a mix of Super Poultry and Starter. I figure since Rosie is not laying that is safe for everyone. If they all go in together (chicks with layers) the chicks will have access to the same layer crumbles, and since we eat the eggs we won't be able to feed them medicated starter or in a couple of weeks grower crumbles.

Life would be easier if I could let her back into the main run, I don't think there would be an issue with getting along, it's just the feeds I have a concern over.

I feed mine a generic flock raiser with oyster shell on the side. That way I don't have to worry about who eats what! Is the grower crumbles medicated? If not, they are probably fine to feed everyone.

 

[ozexpat]

I feed mine a generic flock raiser with oyster shell on the side. That way I don't have to worry about who eats what! Is the grower crumbles medicated? If not, they are probably fine to feed everyone.

i concur. oystershell on the side and a mid protein feed.

you can always give the chicks some boiled egg or meal worms on the side but they have had a good start and should be fine

 

[Wrightsx4]

I don't know how our feed options compare, but when we have mixed ages I feed everyone the same feed and take away the layer feed. Mine all get "Purina Flock Raiser" which is an 18% protein feed without added calcium, or else I let them all eat non medicated starter. It won't hurt the adults at all - pretty shiny feathers is a bonus. The layers have a bucket of crushed eggshell and/or oyster shell - everyone else ignores that. It's not very appetizing I guess unless you're a hen craving it. I do feed medicated starter to the chicks very early on in a corner feeder inside a milk crate that only they can get into. Only about three weeks though. I haven't had any coccidiosis in our flock so I relax our routine once they've been introduced to each other's germs and survive. Lol.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Lol - you all beat me to it!

 

[ozexpat]

Lol - you all beat me to it!

but you were much more eloquent!!

 

[Wrightsx4]

Haha - I tend to overexplain. It's good to know we all agree on the same advice and have used it with our own flocks successfully.

 

[ozexpat]

Haha - I tend to overexplain. It's good to know we all agree on the same advice and have used it with our own flocks successfully.

i mix my own feeds from soy, fish meal, copra meal and rice bran but when it comes to mixed age coops i use a mix for the highest protein need.

 

[Fancychooklady]

At 6 weeks mine go off the medicated chick starter anyway. Amprolium has no withholding period, contrary to what they will tell you at the pet shop. The only breed I've had problems with, eating the grown ups feed, is silkies. Some of the grains are just too big. I had one that was only a week old, choke.

 

[Bens-Hens]

OK, so the Rocks are 5 weeks now, I could hold off another week and put my laying flock all onto grower (marked as 8-16 weeks of age and non medicated). I already have a tube of shell grit but pretty sure that is not the stuff they need to boost the layers calcium for egg production. We do have egg shells though which we could soak and crush.

Next problem is I am pretty much fully stocked on all layer feed which would not be needed again for another 2.5 months, hope it keeps.

Need to look at how I can work that to not waste the feeds we already have stock of.

 

[ozexpat]

OK, so the Rocks are 5 weeks now, I could hold off another week and put my laying flock all onto grower (marked as 8-16 weeks of age and non medicated). I already have a tube of shell grit but pretty sure that is not the stuff they need to boost the layers calcium for egg production. We do have egg shells though which we could soak and crush.

Next problem is I am pretty much fully stocked on all layer feed which would not be needed again for another 2.5 months, hope it keeps.

Need to look at how I can work that to not waste the feeds we already have stock of.

the feed should keep ok. in our humid environment, feed keeps for several months, if concerned, use the grower for a month or 6 weeks then start blending in the layer.

alternatively you can get hold of a few kilos of soy meal, adding it to layer feed at a ratio of 1:9 will give you about 18% protein. The extra calcium is not going to hurt them in the short term.