What to feed chick when mixing them in with laying hens?

[KuroKitsune]

Can you permanently feed chick crumbs to chickens all their life with free choice oyster shell? My chick crumbs contain about 17.5% protein and I really don't like constantly changing feeds (My flock is all mixed age and live together) , so I'm thinking of just giving the entire flock chick crumbs with oyster shell on side permanently so when new chicks hatch I don't have to do or change anything in terms of feed (I plan to hatch every few months, or whenever I have a broody). The only other significant differnce between the layers and chick crumbs seems to be the crude ash which is almost double in the layers feed.

So will feeding chick crumbs permanently (with free choice oyster shell) to layers have any major negative effects or will it be fine?

my 5 cochin hens are on all flock pellets(which is like chick starter but pelleted) and have free choice oyster shell on the side and they lay great and the egg shells are rock hard. and their super happy healthy hens.


so if you want to feed chick starter with oyster shell on the side go ahead lots of people do with good results

 

[triplepurpose]

my 5 cochin hens are on all flock pellets(which is like chick starter but pelleted) and have free choice oyster shell on the side and they lay great and the egg shells are rock hard. and their super happy healthy hens.


so if you want to feed chick starter with oyster shell on the side go ahead lots of people do with good results

I agree. I use all that stuff interchangeaby myself and provide oyster shell free choice on the side (never hurts even if you're giving layer mix). Along with scraps and garden greens all the other stuff I feed. If you look at the ingredients/nutrient info it's all almost exactly the same product. Kind of like marketing special soaps and shampoos "specially formulated" just for men, or for women, or for children, or for babies (and God forbid everyone in the family scrimp like poor people and use the SAME soap)!

Sells more product for the manufacturers that way, I'd imagine.

 

[donrae]

Can you permanently feed chick crumbs to chickens all their life with free choice oyster shell? My chick crumbs contain about 17.5% protein and I really don't like constantly changing feeds (My flock is all mixed age and live together) , so I'm thinking of just giving the entire flock chick crumbs with oyster shell on side permanently so when new chicks hatch I don't have to do or change anything in terms of feed (I plan to hatch every few months, or whenever I have a broody). The only other significant differnce between the layers and chick crumbs seems to be the crude ash which is almost double in the layers feed.

So will feeding chick crumbs permanently (with free choice oyster shell) to layers have any major negative effects or will it be fine?

This is what I do. My feed is actually an all-in-one, a touch higher protein, but everyone eats it. Baby chicks to old hens to roosters and everyone between. Ducks, too.

 

[brummie]

thanks guys. I have not come across any all flock feeds around here, but that puts my mind at rest, I'll be able to permanently feed chick starters to the flock with free choice OS. Saves messing around with feeds every few weeks or months when a broody hatches.