When to add younger beds to the flock?

[Haley Clark]

I have 10 two yr old hens and 7 3month old pullets. The pullets are in a seperate pen because they (obviously are smaller) and because they are still on starter feed. My problem is that they have out grown their little pen and it is starting to get nasty. When can I put them with the older birds, and how do I deal with the issue of them being on starter crumbles ad my older birds being in layer pellets?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If the space is large enough you can probably do it now. Add other food and water sources so the older birds can't starve and dehydrate them.

Switch the whole flock to a grower feed and keep a container of oyster shell available all the time. Those that are laying will pick it up as the egg enters the shell gland.

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok, so grower feed won't hurt the older birds, or slow them down from laying?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

On the contrary, a higher protein feed can increase egg production, at least for a time. Layer feed doesn't induce or do anything to affect laying. Layer feed is 4% calcium as opposed to the 1% in other feeds. It replaces the medullary bone that is utilized to build an egg shell. As much as 10% of a hen's skeletal calcium is used to build a single egg shell. But the rest of the egg is primarily protein and the calcium isn't needed until the egg enters the shell gland. So the extra calcium in layer feed won't do anything to initiate ovulation.
That said, a good calcium source is still necessary for birds actively laying to replace the lost bone.
If you're feeding grower to layers, never let them run out of oyster shell or another high quality calcium source.

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok thanks! The grower feed at my local feed store says grower/finisher and says 15% on the bag and the brand is Dumor. Is this the right stuff?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

By 3 months a 15% is fine but the hens may need slightly more for making eggs. You could mix a little starter feed with the grower to up the protein to about 16 or 17%.

You can use the Pearson's square to calculate the ratio. If your starter is 18%, a ratio of 1 part finisher to 2 parts starter will give you 17% protein.

https://homesteadapps.com/app/free/feedcalc/pearsonsquare.php

Enter the higher protein percentage feed in the concentrate box and the lower percentage feed in the grain box.

ETA
There's not a big difference in those percentages so it's not the end of the world whichever way you go. The critical thing is not giving excess calcium to non layers and still providing some to those actively building shells.

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok thanks for the help! Now let's just hope they somewhat get along!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
Space is the big thing at the beginning.

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok well they will have a huge pen, and plenty of space to get away from the big hens

 

[aart]

There will be some bickering and pecking but as long as no one is bleeding or constantly chased and/or pinned down, they will work it out. If you have to interfere and separate them, they just have to start the whole process over. Some hiding places can really help too. Throwing out some scratch or a treat can distract everyone too.


I feed a flock raiser that is 20% protein to all ages/genders and have oyster shell/crushed chicken egg shells available at all times in a separate container for the layers. This makes it simple to feed and also balances out the lower protein of scratch grain and other treats I like to feed.