What age to mix chicks with hens???

[yodercountrygirl]

When can you put the young chicks in with the hens? I have 2 6wks old that need out of the brooder, but I don't know what to do about the feed. Can they be put on layer food this young???

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

No, they aren't able to handle the extra calcium in the layer feed.

One suggestion I've read is to try to keep the layers' feed where the babies can't get to it and vice versa, put the babies' feed someplace small enough that only the younger ones can get in there. I'll be curious to see if there are other suggestions.

 

[yodercountrygirl]

thanks,

Anybody else???

 

[ella]

You can put the whole flock on a flock raiser or gambird feed and have oyster shell free choice on the side. Some people have that as their normal feed because of having lots of roosters, youngsters and non layers.

The other issue would be the chicks getting bullied by the older hens, if they are too young and don't have room to get away from each other it can get pretty bloody. Definately keep a close eye on them until things settle down and be ready to get them out of there if integrating doesn't go well.

 

[gryeyes]

I'm going to put my chicks (and 2 ducklings) out this weekend, as soon as I get the Big Coop finished so I can move the Big Chickens there. Then the smaller coop in which the Big Chickens currently sleep, which has an attached run I can close up WITHIN the big Chicken Run enclosure, will become the coop & run for the chicks.

I'm on vacation next week so I can see how things progress. The littles will have their safe place surrounded by the Biggies. Once their size is closer to the Biggies, I'll let the Littles out of the attached pen. (Hopefully, by then, the Big Chickens will also know the Big Coop is their new home.)