What will I feed them?

[Caffus]

I have an older hen and 10 6 week olds. One of them will be a rooster and they will have some chicks. Can I give them all flock pellets mixed with chick starter and then offer calcium and grit together in a separate bowl?

 

[chickenlittle21]

Offer crushed oyster shells and a mix of poultry and chick grit in separate feeders. If you have a flock of chicks and adult hens you can give them all 18% flock raiser.

 

[Caffus]

Sounds good, but can the chicks get enough food if the flock raiser is pellets? I have noticed that when I use crumbled more than half is wasted. That is why I was thinking of using both. That way, to make sure the chicks could eat and the odler birds do not waste most of the food.

 

[Willow2253]

You certainly could put both out. I have a mixed age flock, and I have one feeder out with layer pellets for the adults, and one feeder with grower crumbles for the young ones. Having the adult food out won’t stop the adults from eating the chick food, but it does help make sure everyone has the options to meet their nutritional needs.

 

[Folly's place]

I feed an all flock feed that comes as crumbles, so it works well for the chicks too. Pellets are difficult for chicks!
Mary

 

[Sonya9]

Sounds good, but can the chicks get enough food if the flock raiser is pellets? I have noticed that when I use crumbled more than half is wasted. That is why I was thinking of using both. That way, to make sure the chicks could eat and the odler birds do not waste most of the food.

If you feed crumbles put a cookie sheet or other pan under it to catch the spill.

 

[donddon]

I have an older hen and 10 6 week olds. One of them will be a rooster and they will have some chicks. Can I give them all flock pellets mixed with chick starter and then offer calcium and grit together in a separate bowl?

Do offer feed, grit and calcium in separate containers. They can all eat starter since you do offer calcium.

 

[rosemarythyme]

When I have chicks everyone's eating all flock crumble for their dry feed.