two quick questions:

[aran]

Hi all...so my first set of babies are now 5 weeks old and are out in the coop doing great. I will be locking them in tonight since it is going to be less than 40F over night.

1.When do I change from the starter feed to the next kind ( what is the next food for them? they are laying birds)
2. My new babies are 8 days old today. They keep throwing all the food out of the feeders and onto the floor of the brooder...will they eat if up from there? Every time i go and fill the feeders up they manage to empty them onto the floor amongst the poop within hours.

 

[Sherry]

I'm using Purina Start and Grow, they stay on it until 18-20 weeks.

Anytime I hear someone say "she eats like a bird" tells me they have no idea they've essentially just called someone a pig!

The little ones sure do love to make a mess.

I use the metal one that a jar screws onto for the little ones, so yesterday I fill it up go to put it in the brooder and the two pieces seperate, spilled it everywhere. I left it and they did clean it up, so I would say, yes, if spilled in the litter and poo they will still eat it. I figured would give them good scratching practice.

 

[Bailey]

make a "mash" wet the starter down with milk, water etc.
I usually toss some spinich, wheat grass, and what ever veggie scraps I have into the blender add enough water, milk , whey - the clear stuff off yogurt
Zoom it to the green slime state mix in starter spoon that into the feeder and watch what happens - they don't like things sticking to their beaks but they really like the stuff

give them some grit- throw in some moths

When they're little- I hand feed them on a piece of cardboard a little at a time gets them used to me- trains them to come to what ever call you initiate- I step out in the yard and say "Cheeka-cheeka-cheeka" and they all come running. Which is what I want for my layers.

 

[Southern28Chick]

If I'm not mistaken, you should keep the chicks on chick starter feed until they start to lay. When they start to lay then you switch them to Layer Feed.

Anyone fell free to correct me if I'm wrong. I feed my babes Southern States brand Chick Start and Grow. The bag says to keep them on the chick feed until they start to lay.

 

[aran]

great advice guys thanks.


so the 5 week olds are out in the coop and have been for 2 weeks.
I had to spend 30mins today cleaning crap off the little 1 week olds butts! oh the humanity!

 

[homesteader34]

cleaning crap off the butts reminds me of ours. My kids and I had to do that once....they were just as unhappy as the baby chicks.. but it builds character....hehe