Q&A in chicken management

[lawre17]

is keeping birds of diffrent ages together bad as long as they are all feeding in the same type of feed (layers) ? .I have asked this because the older ones are pecking the smaller ones

 

[N F C]

Good morning and welcome to BYC!

It would be helpful to have a little more information. What are the ages of the birds? What breeds are they? Did you go through an integration period before mixing them all together? How much room do they have in the coop/run?

If the younger birds are not laying yet, they shouldn't be eating layer feed because it's too high in calcium. If some of your birds are laying and some not, they can all eat grower feed with crushed oyster shell provided on the side.

 

[lawre17]

i have a 1 lying bird and 2 four months old and 5 five months old chicks.For breeds type i dont know ill do some research

 

[Den in Penn]

A mixed age flock is not a bad thing. A good feed other then layer will work. Calcium on the side for the layers. I you can't get anything other then layer, then that is what you have to work with. You will just have to find a way to dilute their calcium intake down with other things like pasturing, scraps or something else. You'll probably be doing that anyway. Just remember they do need 15 to 16 percent protein in their diet.

 

[lawre17]

thanks very much.guide me on other feeding materials other than the layer feed because i just vaccinate them and give them some little maize grounded grains and a layer feed only