I have 14 chicks that were born on June 22. they are in a 5x6 coop in a huge run with my 11 full grown chickens. A fence partition between them. When can I let them live together in same coop? I think they can handle themselves but question how to feed them proper feed. How do you get them to eat the chick starter and not the layer feed?? Thanks
If the chicks are smaller than your adult birds, they will probably get picked on. I don't usually let my babies in with my adults until they are almost the same size. Also if you put everyone together and try to feed them something different, you will have your adult birds eating your chick feed and the chicks eating the laying feed. They don't know the difference.
Good question. I will be in the same position next spring when I get some chicks to add to my adults. Hope you get some answers.
I am dealing with the same thing too...I have 2 9 week old pullets and 5 chicks coming this week...in 5-6 weeks when i want to put them together the food situation is a problem..I am researching different options. I am reading about this stuff called FLOCK RAISER which is for mixed age birds..and you leave oyster shells out for the laying birds to munch on until everyone is laying and then you give everyone layer mash or pellets...i dont know about that though...and im concerned about putting the little guys with the big girls...i dont have much room to seperate them in the coop...i have very limited space...if i find anything in my research that is helpful...i will pass it along
i feed all my guys and galls flock raiser, I used chick feeder when I had chicks from the hatchery last year and this spring, then I had 3 hens go broody, I let the momma's raise their chicks so they had to eat the same thing. Flock raiser has 20% protein, Layer feed has 16, oyster shell on the side and every one is happy. I let the mother take the chicks back in the big coop when she was ready to return. About 8 weeks she protected them for about a week. they did get picked on at roosting time but not bad and they learned to hide if necessary. I have 2 hens with 6 chicks in a tractor right now, they seem to share mothering. and they free range with all the hens and roos during the day. Mothers watch over them very well.
