Will medicated chick starter really kill laying hens? Another ? in OP

[americana-chick]

so i am feeding my chicks 18% medicated chick starter crumbles they wont get hurt from that will they? "and i mean baby chicks not laying hens"

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
All of your chickens should be on starter/grower.

 

[chantald]

What do I do then when my new chicks are 3 or 4 montsh old.. and with the adult hens? They are on layer.. My feed store has chick crumbles or layer pellets.. those are my choices.. They dont' have grower's pellets.. What happens when the two flocks are together (and keeping them apart after 4 months is NOT an option)

 

[MissPrissy]

Check around. There are other feed stores. They can also order other feeds for you. You don't have to settle for what is on the shelves.

Purina Flock Raiser and a bowl of crushed oyster shell works fine.

My chickens eat gamebird feed.

If they get scraps or yard time they are getting plenty nutrition.

 

[mistylady]

My hens are eating it right now since we have chicks too. They are all fine. I only have one can to hold feed so everyone eats the same stuff.

 

[Marlinchaser]

I let mine freerange, and the first place the Hens go is to the chick side to clean up anything that the chicks havent eaten, you would think the hens had no food, but thier hopper is full, chick starter must just Taste better, I havent tried it, so will take thier word for it.

Well no dead hens, so it must not kill them.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I suppose I should have been more specific. I didn't mean they (babies) would drop dead immediately from eating layer pellets. However, if they eat it regularly it can cause their kidneys to shut down which leads to death.

 

[chantald]

Wow.. this is really not good.. both local feed stores only carry chick crumble and layer pellets.. and my hens have been on the pellets since June and one started laying this month..

I guess I've been killing them without meaning too.. great...just peachy...

 

[chantald]

bump for a new question in the bottom of the Original Post

thanks

 

[Akane]

I can't get grower either. Just chick starter, flock raiser, and layer. I fed them medicated starter until about 8 weeks and then I ended up mixing flock raiser and the gamebird starter I feed my quail to create a feed with 19% protein. The quail can't finish off the gamebird starter before it goes bad anyway.