Question about feed

[showjumper_girl2002]

Hi there! I have 4 chicks that are almost 9 weeks old and 3 mature hens. How do you handle the feed situation when you have chicks and hens? They are big enough and getting along with the hens enough for me to have them free range together when I'm home. My dilemma is the feed. The chicks leave the layer feed alone but my hens go right for the chick feed as soon as I open the chick's run up. Do I need to keep the younger ones separate until they are laying or is it ok for the hens to have some chick starter?

 

[orrpeople]

I use an "all flock" or "flock raiser" and offer oyster shell in a separate little feeder for the layers.

 

[blackdog043]

Your hens can have chick starter, but it shouldn't be medicated. I use Starter/Grower 20% protein with oyster shell in a separate container all the time. I never switch to a layer feed, it's not needed. The difference between Starter/Grower or All Flock vs Layer is the protein and calcium content.

 

[lwiese58]

Along this line but in a somewhat different direction, and forgive me if this is addressed in another page, but I'm curious as to how often others make "feed" available to their flock when they free range all day. We've been accustomed to leaving their feed out, available, all day and they come in and out of the run throughout the day to eat. But I also recently read something about giving them their feed first thing in the morning only. What are others doing?

 

[av8torcrj]

Along this line but in a somewhat different direction, and forgive me if this is addressed in another page, but I'm curious as to how often others make "feed" available to their flock when they free range all day. We've been accustomed to leaving their feed out, available, all day and they come in and out of the run throughout the day to eat. But I also recently read something about giving them their feed first thing in the morning only. What are others doing?

I've personally determined how much my 60 bird laying flock will generally consume during the day, adding that much each morning so that its depleted at nightfall and not readily available to the mice. They have a tremendous area to forage and having feed in the coop doesn't seem to slow their outdoor adventures down. We have them for egg production and they are doing a great job so withholding the feed to press them to forage and save me a penny or two just doesn't seem fair. Plus, there is a pecking order of course so the continuous availability allows the underdogs to eat after the bullies have gone to find frogs and crawdads by the pond.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I use all flock for my birds as well. 4 hens, 3 teenagers, 1 mama hen with 6 babies