Wanting to use proper feed.

[Beth21]

I just put my 9 week old chicks in with my adult chickens. Is their a feed that both can eat and both have the benefits they need?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yes. You can feed almost anything BUT Layer. The younger birds cannot handle the high calcium and it is hard on their renal systems.

Feed, Grower, Raiser, even Starter non-med. Just provide your laying hens some calcium source, like crushed shells, on the side. Normally, the younger birds don't mess with it as their bodies aren't craving it.

 

[Percheron chick]

It's easiest to feed a grower or all flock feed and just provide oyster or egg shells on the side for the layers.

 

[Beth21]

We have a bin that has layer that we just bought. Can we finish that off first, then start with the other feed? And do we need to go ahead and switch?

 

[Fred's Hens]

You need to switch.

A couple of days is no issue, but for a month? No, no, that's not good.

 

[Beth21]

So is an all stock feed ok. I doesn't say it's for chickens. What the best one type of feed you recomend

 

[Michael Apple]

It would be best to keep 9 week old chicks away from calcium content of older birds. Most adult rations are around 2.5% calcium. During the growing period the high risk of nephrosis, visceral gout, calcium urate deposits in the ureters, can cause high mortality. Too high of a content of calcium can also tie up phosphorous levels and cause rickets. At around 4 months of age, or about 2 weeks before laying, that calcium content won't be a threat to their health and development.

 

[Fred's Hens]

So is an all stock feed ok. I doesn't say it's for chickens. What the best one type of feed you recomend

Actually, it's an All Flock feed. Not All Stock. There are so many choices. See what your local feed store sells. Just remember, Grower is also fine. Non medicated Starter is also fine. Don't forget to pick up some calcium source for your laying hens. Perhaps you already feed back their own shells crushed. Many folks do this as well.

 

[gander007]

Your young ones still have a lot of growing to do so I try to keep mine on Turkey Grower as it has a 20% Protein for a healthy body

 

[Percheron chick]

All stock is the cheap heavy molasses , high filler livestock (horse, cattle, goat) feed. Not good for them much less chickens.