which feed for which chicken!!

[Hennyhandler]

I have integrated my chickens and I have heard that when you have some that are laying and the rest aren't that you can feed to the youngest and provide oyster shell if egg production is not as important. Well, I put layer and finisher feed out there and the layers are eating the finisher and the pullets are eating the layer feed. Is this ok? I have NEVER done this before so any info is better than nothing

 

[Ridgerunner]

This site will give you more than you want to know about the different feeds. It may help you.

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw477/#anchor1132074

The main difference between grower and layer feeds is that the layer has extra calcium. Both have about 16% protein. Starter has a little more protein, usually 18% to 20%. The only significant difference in providing layer or grower with oyster shell on the side would be a difference in cost.

The extra calcium in layer can potentially damage a young chick's internal organs. The chick will not fall over dead immediately after eating layer as the calcium causes long term damage. It may not harm the young chick at all, especially if the young chick is free ranging and eating a lot of other foods, but the potential for long term damage is there.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hennyhandler]

They are only five or six weeks apart so the little chickens are not technically babies. Does that info still apply if they're are so close in age?