Question about baby chicks born in coop with mother

[alessadry]

My broody hen has given birth to 5 chicks in the coop where the other hens and rooster live. Now I am wondering, is it OK if some adult chickens/rooster manage to eat some baby chick food and most of all, if the baby chicks manage to eat layer's food, will it harm them?

I am keeping the food in separate areas, but I can imagine it can happen that some nosy adult hen or rooster may steal some baby chick food and that the chicks as they become more mobile may end eating some layer's food.

For preventing the adult hens/roosters from eating baby chick food I have a solution, I can use one of those feeders for baby chicks where adult hens should be unable to stick their necks through. Also , I guess mama hen will protect the food.

But not sure how to avoid the baby chicks from eating layer's food eventually as they grow.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I switch everyone over to a non medicated starter grower. A separate bowl of oyster shells will handle the extra calcium needs.

 

[alessadry]

Thanks, I can do that, but can the abrupt switch cause any digestive problems to my layers and cockerels? I have dogs and know I cannot switch to different foods too fast, but not sure if this applies to chickens as well.

 

[junebuggena]

Switching feed will not cause digestive issues. Most feeds all have the same basic ingredients, just different levels of protein and calcium.

 

[tinakevin]

It won't hurt the adults to eat the baby food but it could hurt the babies to eat the layer food. I have had to make the switch over to all flock crumbles and it didn't effect the adults at all. You should be ok to change it without having to gradually do it. As oldhenlikesdogs said just give the adults oyster shell on the side

 

[alessadry]

Ok thanks, I just read this post, does it have any validity? http://afarmishkindoflife.com/dont-use-chick-starter/

 

[junebuggena]

It is dangerous to mess with the nutrition of young, growing animals. Chicks need at least 18% protein content in their diet to maintain their growth rate and feather development. And numerous studies have been done on the effects of feeding high calcium diets to chicks. It has been well documented that it's a dangerous practice that can be fatal.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ok thanks, I just read this post, does it have any validity? http://afarmishkindoflife.com/dont-use-chick-starter/

Well I can turn it around and say I never feed a layer, and there's no reason to ever feed a layer. In chickens everyone has an opinion, and everyone has their way of doing things. I have found that feeding layer shortens my roosters lives, so everyone gets a grower and an All Flock.

Your flock, you decision, lots of ways to do things, that's what makes chickens so interesting.

 

[tinakevin]

When I have babies I feed them chick starter crumbles and the adults also eat it. But the adults also have the all flock but I do switch that over to crumbles so if the babies do eat it they don't choke on it. I'm with oldhenlikesdogs. Everyone has their own way of doing things. you really can't mess up too badly. Chickens r very resilient. They adapt to food quite nicely lol

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Thanks, I can do that, but can the abrupt switch cause any digestive problems to my layers and cockerels? I have dogs and know I cannot switch to different foods too fast, but not sure if this applies to chickens as well.

Free range chickens by definition all have an abrupt change in diet. For true free range birds this happens almost every hour.