What do you do about food??

[acbear93]

Ok, I have mama and chicks moved in with rest of the flock in the coop/run...they have been isolated from the rest of the girls so far, everyone else is outside yet, I watned to give them a chance to settle in and get comfortable before the others come in tonight...Mama found her corner that she likes, and babies are very curious, so cute..there were 2 hens that came in to see what was going on, and mama was very protective of the kids, so I am not worried about that...Question though, what do you do about food??? The other gals are layers, and I have the layer ration in there, and I have the chick starter in there also, I thought I hid it well enough but no, the 2 hens that came to see what was going on started eating the chick starter, how do I keep them from doing this, I dont want to hide it so well, that no one can find it, and what about the chicks eating the crumbs that get knocked out of the layer ration?? Is any of this going to be harmul to either of them?

 

[tackyrama]

I have had the same exact problem. Right now I have a mother hen with 5 - 2 week old chicks. I had them isolated for the first week then let them out during a quiet timeof the day. She was able to have her own area for another 3 days before she couldn't drive out the other chickens anymore. After that I was totally amazed at how well they integrated in. At 10 days the babies were up on the roost right next to king roo (with ma right there of course).

As far as food I have given up on trying to give what to who. It can't be done unless they are physically separated. All the chickens get the same which is scratch two times a day and free range the rest of the day. From what I read on BYC it won't hurt them if they eat food intended for another group. Roosters might get too much calcium form egg mash but my roo shows no ill affects after two years. In the winter my flock is smaller and they just get egg mash & table scraps. Roo included. After they quit laying during the winter they go back to scratch along with scraps. My chickens also get a LOT of apples in the fall/early winter.

 

[acbear93]

Yeah, I just dont think it can be done either(keeping food seperate)...its our first time letting a hen raise chicks here...I was totally amazed when I moved them, my little 6yr old girl helped me...they are less then a week old, but that cage they were in just didnt seem right anymore...I scooped up the babies and had them in my shirt, and she carried mama to the coop for me so they could all go at once...they checked it all out, settled into just the right corner, found the food and water right away, mama fended off any curious hens that came around to take a peek, fluffed out, made noises like back off, even when they were at opposite corners...just amazing! So, I knew they would be protected...I went back to check after about an hour, around sunset when the rest of the girls were heading for bed...there they were the 4 of them peeking out under mama, and the other girls just hopped up to roost like nothing changed...just amazing...just so darn cute!!! Well, I guess as long as I keep each crumble available, they should get at least some of it....my hens free range part of the day too, and scratch grains and veggie peelings, and table scraps sometimes, and oyster shell is available to them too,so I guess they will get what they get and be happy...

Thanks!

 

[Mahlzeit]

Its not much of a problem for the adults to have the starter feed. But the calcium in the layer feed could is said to be to much for the babies and can cause some problems in their development.

 

[lovemychickies]

I had the same conundrum earlier this summer. My mama had her nest on the floor of the coop so I tacked up an old sheet as a barrier but cut out a small opening so she and the babies could go out when they pleased. The mama was so ferocious, none of my other hens tried to enter her little cubby. I also tucked food and water bowls in their area. The mama had her pellets, and the babies had their starter. Mama ate a lot of starter, but I didn't worry about that. Hope this helps!

 

[acbear93]

thanks for all the advice! gonna do the best I can to supervise the food situation...I do have the layer food raised up out of reach to the babies, so the most they would eat of that would be what gets scattered on the floor when mama is showing them how to scratch...the starter is in a small feeder on the floor as out of reach to the other birds as I can, I may have to make a little cubby that only the chicks can access...have to think of what I can do about that...thanks again!

 

[cmom]

It appears as if you have it pretty well under control. I like your ideas.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think you are doing OK. You are certainly on the right track.

2-1/2" openings seem about right. You can build a wooden crate out of slats and put it over the feeder, maybe take a milk carton and cut the right sized opening, maybe a piece of plywood blocking that cubbyhole you mentioned with a hole in it or spaced properly from a wall, whatever you can come up with.

Good luck!

 

[Judy]

Feed everyone starter or grower. Offer oyster shell in a separate dishm so the layers can get the calcium they need. The babies will eat little or none of the oyster shell.

It the babies eat layer, it can damage their kidneys.

 

[acbear93]

I have a rabbit igloo that I am trying out to put the chicks food under, only they can get in there.....so I have that situated that the older girls cant tip it over to get to the starter...will see if that works...I keep oyster shell in a seperate tray available to the older girls, its already out of reach of the babies too...mama took the babies outside this morning, so I need to set up water available to the shorties outside too, its a long way back indoors for some water and food when you are that little....off to get that done!!

Thanks again!