When should I put adolescent chicks with the adult flock?

[fpfarric]

My chicks are about 3 months old. They are still eating starter food. I have been introducing them to the adult flock each day (in the yard in a large, wire crate) and all is going well. My main concern is with food. When do the chicks start eating layer pellets? Will the starter food harm the adults if they it?? Thanks!

 

[Judy]

Starter feed is fine for the whole flock, indefinitely. The main differences are protein and calcium. The extra calcium in laer is harmful to young chicks. 3 month may be old enough to eat layer, although personally I'd wait at least 2 more months, or when they start laying, to be safe, and also to give the chicks the bit of extra protein. Probably the biggest problem with feeding adults starter feed is they don't need that much protein so it is a bit of a waste of money. Of course if you feed the whole flock starter, the laying hens will need a source of calcium. Baby chicks do not usually bother oyster shell offered separately. Many people feed the whole flock a flock raiser or grower feed routinely. Many a rooster has lived for years on layer feed, but they don't need that extra calcium, either.

 

[fpfarric]

Thanks so much for your response. In your experience, will the chicks eat the layer if it is available (even if I have a separate feeder with starter in it)? I think the chicks are ready to join the flock but I don't want to harm them by having layer available if they shouldn't eat it. Thanks again!

 

[Percheron chick]

The chicks will eat the layer and the hens will eat the starter. Either put the starter where only the chicks can get to it or give everyone starter with additional oyster shells. I would just finish the bag of starter you are working on than get everyone on the layer.