Switching to growth food for the new chicken? Help!

[Chickenlovercr]

Hello!

I have an ISA Brown rooster, an old chicken and 3 new ones that are 17 wks old so I'm giving the flock growth food but the new ones are getting bigger and bigger. The owner of a wildlife rescue center where I'm a volunteer gave me an amberlink pullet, or I think this is the type, I have no idea how old is she and right now she is separated from the others through a fence but since she is alone she is desperate to be with them and I'll introduce her to the flock in a couple of days.

My question is, since she is young and the new chickens are about to start laying eggs soon, should I keep giving them growth food because all of them are going to be together, or should I switch to layer feed?

Thanks!

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Hello!

I have an ISA Brown rooster, an old chicken and 3 new ones that are 17 wks old so I'm giving the flock growth food but the new ones are getting bigger and bigger. The owner of a wildlife rescue center where I'm a volunteer gave me an amberlink pullet, or I think this is the type, I have no idea how old is she and right now she is separated from the others through a fence but since she is alone she is desperate to be with them and I'll introduce her to the flock in a couple of days.

My question is, since she is young and the new chickens are about to start laying eggs soon, should I keep giving them growth food because all of them are going to be together, or should I switch to layer feed?

Thanks!

Give them grower, or all flock, or flock raiser with oyster shells on the side for those that are laying.

Also if you have a rooster you shouldn't be feeding layer feed anyways its bad for them.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Grow feed is fine..... it's mainly to do with protein content than anything when it comes to flock feed, grower feed, meat birds, etc. But with layer, extra calcium is added.

I say finish that grower feed for all the chickens, then switch it up with layer after the bag is done. I'm sure the lone younger chick won't die because of the extra calcium in the layer feed, it saves you from having to buy 10 different bags of feed for 10 different reasons!

 

[Chickenlovercr]

Give them grower, or all flock, or flock raiser with oyster shells on the side for those that are laying.

Also if you have a rooster you shouldn't be feeding layer feed anyways its bad for them.

I've been giving the rooster layer feed since like 3 years almost and he is healthy, I just don't know how to make the hens eat layer and the rooster only "normal" and the hens need the layer for the extra calcium I guess.

 

[PachecoPeeps]

I've been giving the rooster layer feed since like 3 years almost and he is healthy, I just don't know how to make the hens eat layer and the rooster only "normal" and the hens need the layer for the extra calcium I guess.

You would just feed a grower, or all flock, or flock raiser and have a dish on the side for oyster shells or egg shells. I use a medal container meant for rabbits and I have it next to the feeder. The layers will eat the calcium that they need and the babies and rooster won’t.

 

[Ste]

We have 10 chicks, 4 laying hens and 1 hen whose raising 5 of our babies. Currently feeding chick starter and will switch to grower soon. I just keep a container of oyster shells available for the hens who are laying. They will eat the oyster shells if needed. We also compost in our run and throw our shells in so they can eat those if needed.