young birds and pullets, same food? and other ?s

[Ms. Cluckingly]

Two of my bantams are about a month old, and my pullet is well, NOT. She's more like 19 weeks (so says the lady I bought her from). But I've been feeding them the same food, Ranchway Poultry Granules. The bag doesn't say whether it is for growing or laying. The eat bugs and weeds too. Is it ok for them all to be on the same food? And HOW do you feed a chicken yogurt? What flavor? I went to the feedstore today and asked for grit, and the man said I didn't need it if my chickens were on the ground. Said they'd eat plenty of dirt and that would be fine. I took his word for it, of course. Only feed store in Colorado Springs, so I assume he knows what he is doing. I also have some cabbage for them. DO I just chop it up real fine and give them a bit at a time on the ground, or should I put it in a bowl for them? I keep thinking, "I don't want them to eat dirty cabbage!" But.. they eat bugs...

I know... I'm a noob.

 

[gritsar]

Ms. Cluckingly :

Two of my bantams are about a month old, and my pullet is well, NOT. She's more like 19 weeks (so says the lady I bought her from). But I've been feeding them the same food, Ranchway Poultry Granules. The bag doesn't say whether it is for growing or laying. The eat bugs and weeds too. Is it ok for them all to be on the same food? And HOW do you feed a chicken yogurt? What flavor? I went to the feedstore today and asked for grit, and the man said I didn't need it if my chickens were on the ground. Said they'd eat plenty of dirt and that would be fine. I took his word for it, of course. Only feed store in Colorado Springs, so I assume he knows what he is doing. I also have some cabbage for them. DO I just chop it up real fine and give them a bit at a time on the ground, or should I put it in a bowl for them? I keep thinking, "I don't want them to eat dirty cabbage!" But.. they eat bugs...

I know... I'm a noob.

Okay, that food is not familiar to me. There should be a white tag on the bottom of the bag that tells you the % of the different components. If you could find that tag and post the ingredients amounts, folks here @ BYC should be able to tell you if it's suitable for all. Also, is it medicated? Once your hen starts laying, she will need a supplement of oyster shell.
How do you feed a chicken yogurt? You put some low or no fat plain yogurt in a bowl and stand way back. They love it, but they also fling it everywhere! If they are unsure about it at first, try sprinkling some of their regular food on top. Chickens are chicken of new things. I don't feed flavored yogurts; too much sugar and/or artificial sweeteners.
The feed store man was correct about grit. If your chickens have access to dirt and gravel, they will find suitable pebbles to use for grit.
Might chop that cabbage for the young'ins. Just toss it on the ground. As they grow you'll see just how many yucky things they'll gladly eat off the ground. They're little T-rexs honestly.
My chooks aren't all that crazy about cabbage. Their current favorites are bananas (hated em when they were chicks), cheerios, cheese, yogurt, scrambled eggs and watermelon. Favorites change regularly.
ETA: Just noticed where y'all are stationed from your sig. We lived there while my older sister was stationed there. Thank your DH for his service and you for enduring the hardship.

 

[Ms. Cluckingly]

So it says on the white tag, "layer feed". Can my 1 month olds have it too?

 

[gritsar]

No, your young ones shouldn't have layer feed. Too much calcium. You might find out if your feed store carries a flock raiser type feed. This can be fed to all, so long as you provide the laying hens with oyster shell. If no flock raiser, then grower with the OS on the side.

 

[Ms. Cluckingly]

Ok, I'll check for the flock raiser feed. Man... and I just bought this whole bag of layer feed.