Question about 7 week old chicks and Intergrating and Feeding

[CitySilkies88]

So I finally got my coop/run set up so that my 7 week chicks can move outside for good. I have a divider set up between them and my adult Silkies. I really I am not worried about them all getting along. But I wanted to keep them seperate because I don't want them to eat the adult Chicken layer feed (as I have been told it will kill the chicks), my chicks are now on regular starter/grower. My questions...........

How long do I have to keep them seperated for this feeding issue? Is there something I can feed both the adults and youngsters and it won't do harm to either of them?

If not, how long do I have to keep them seperated so that the young chicks do not eat the adult layer?

The sooner I can take down the divider the better.

THanks in advance!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Good question, I don't think you can do much about them eating each others food though, you can make an opening that only the little ones can get through to get to their own feed. At this age I think they will be OK eating whatever, my broody hens give her chicks scratch and they eat it too, so far they are thriving well. I think the strict diet guidelines are meant for scientific purposes and don't really apply to real life, chickens can eat practically anything, right out of the egg! Amazing to me, my concern for my own is that the little ones get enough,since chickens aren't fair sharers in the least
Oh, my roosters eat the layer mash too, but no eggs yet.....

 

[norcal]

I'm concerned because my hens are not too friendly & they have a feather pulling habit (which they just seemed to kick - now that there are only 4 of them).

Our new chicks are 7 weeks & we're about to start integrating them to the big coop & we know at least ONE is a rooster. So, I'm a bit concerned. We are thinking of fencing 1/2 of the run & putting them in there during the day & moving back to the brooder at night for a while.

Unsure. Any ideas?

I have 2 BR's - 3 yrs old
and 2 BO's -2 yrs old.

I have 5 TBD younguns.

 

[Erica]

Hi CitySilkies88,

you can get a general purpose feed that doesn't contain the extra high calcium of adult layer feed. I think one version of it is called 'flock raise' (check at your feed store). I'm not sure if its protein level would be high enough for chicks, but 7 weeks is at the point where they change from chick diet to grower diet, so it might be close enough.

If the chicks have access to layer pellets, but also have access to their own feed, they're more likely to eat the smaller crumble anyway. A little of the layer won't harm them; however it's true that if it's their main diet they could suffer (e.g. they won't grow as well because the protein is too low; they could possibly have kidney trouble from high calcium).

As Achickenwrangler#1 says, you can put a divider in that only the smaller chicks could pass through, and that way they'd always have access to their feed without the hens eating it. They'd also have somewhere to run and hide if need be. Then you could pretty much allow them to mingle fairly soon.

Good luck with it!
Erica

 

[highpointfarm]

What I have always done is give them all "All flock" and give free choice oyster shells, for the calcuim...

 

[CitySilkies88]

Thanks for the info everyone. I will be looking into a general flock feeder.