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Chicken Food
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2018 9:51 am
by KimChick
I need a good sounding board, and PTO is it!
The chicks that I hatched are now 13 weeks old and are mixed in with all the other hens and rooster.
Because it is now impossible to separate the feeding stations, I have been mixing the chick grower food with the laying mash.
Then I am reading that the chicks should stay on grower until they start laying, which makes sense.
So... I'm thinking that continuing mixing the feeds until the chicks get to 18 weeks would be OK.
The hens still have their calcium free choice dish.
Does this sound like a do-able "work with what you've got" plan?
Re: Chicken Food
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2018 12:10 pm
by LongCrow
You could switch the grower out for pullet developer. Most feed mills carry it. The protein level may be a little lower.
If they still get to roam outdoors then I would not be too concerned leaving as is.
Re: Chicken Food
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2018 4:39 pm
by baronrenfrew
the “grower” feed is meant as a sole ration for frankenchickens. if you have more ordinary birds then feeding laying mash now (along with all the other goodies they likely get) would be fine (in my opinion).
Re: Chicken Food
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:59 pm
by KimChick
baronrenfrew wrote: ↑Sat Oct 27, 2018 4:39 pm
the “grower” feed is meant as a sole ration for frankenchickens. if you have more ordinary birds then feeding laying mash now (along with all the other goodies they likely get) would be fine (in my opinion).
They weren't getting THAT feed; they were getting whatever comes after the chick medicated starter and before laying mash. The chick grower and meat chicken food aren't the same, are they? I never actually paid attention to that detail.
As of this afternoon, we only have laying mash left anyway, so that is what all the chickens got.
Thanks for the input! And all the chickens do get goodies, too.
Re: Chicken Food
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 8:21 am
by Kbr42
I have a range from 1, 4, and 6 months chicks along with my laying pullets and hens. I have totally given up with trying to separate food. My laying hens Love the chick starter and my chicks love the lay mash. So, I just put everything out and refill when needed.
There is a whole other discussion on where or not to even feed chick starter. Since I've had 3 broody hen raise my chicks for me this year, they show the little ones what and how to eat. Most of the time if you offer both they go for laying mash and the little chicks just eat the smaller bits. In the end, if they are healthy it's all good!
Re: Chicken Food
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 9:47 am
by KimChick
Kbr42 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 8:21 am
I have a range from 1, 4, and 6 months chicks along with my laying pullets and hens. I have totally given up with trying to separate food. My laying hens Love the chick starter and my chicks love the lay mash. So, I just put everything out and refill when needed.
There is a whole other discussion on where or not to even feed chick starter. Since I've had 3 broody hen raise my chicks for me this year, they show the little ones what and how to eat. Most of the time if you offer both they go for laying mash and the little chicks just eat the smaller bits. In the end, if they are healthy it's all good!
Yup, that is pretty much the sentiment I have acquired, too. After mixing the 2 feeds for a few days, all that is left is laying mash. In the morning, I have been adding very warm water to the mash; all the chickens seem to prefer it that way. At dinner time, I just give it dry.