I now have my "teen" chicks out with the big chickens. They are about 11-12 weeks now. I'm having a hard time keeping them from eating the big chickens food. They have a big bunny hutch that they sleep in at night and I keep their food up in that cage and fill it at night. They eat a good part of it and dump the rest on the ground. Is it bad for them to be eating the adult chicken food at their age. I was looking at the feeding chart for their age and that said they go on the adult food at 18 weeks. Oy, that could be hard!
chick food question
jan, my are the same age and eating adult food, and ny snack i give them
I have mine separated and gradually move them up to 50/50 starter mash and crimped oats until at 18 weeks I start laying off the oats and gradually mixing in layer pellets. Having said that, what about roosters--they never lay and yet they eat the layers feed? I don't think a little layer is going to hurt them if they are also eating started/developer/grower.
New to DG; but both of you are right. I've been raising chickens (along with pheasant, a few varieties of quail and of course, my fave, Peafowl) for 6-7 yrs. For a few yrs, we had 100's. Now, down to about 25 & let them hatch & raise themselves w/ a bit of layer; cracked corn for scratching & whatever table scraps we throw them. Nothing like grass for those bright yellow / orange yolks tho.
It's a matter of what they are not getting - higher protein & antibiotics - and what they are getting - calcium & less protein. I know there is more to it; however, they will be fine as long as they have the starter available to them. They are just like kids, you offer and they will eat enough of what they need; and mimicking the adults - the grass is always greener on the other side! If free ranged, they will get extra protein in the bugs they eat.
A good book I found for many of the problems / questions I had is The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow; Storey Books. Found the information to be accurate & helpful. Also, in Pacific NW, we have Del's Feed & Farm Supply. The 'old-time employees' are a wealth of knowledge; very helpful with some of my issues. If you have a good feed store near you, you may be able to tap their knowledge.......
They will be just fine! :-)
PeaFowl--Isn't Damerow is great? I got the idea for adding the crimped oats from her. She advised using developer (which I can't get) but said the crimped oats added to starter up to 50/50 would as well. My chickens are doing beautifully and ready to lay their first eggs.
what is crimped oats and do i get them from the feed store?
L2G2, yep. feed store. mine get whole oats. they really don't care for any oats, so i am guessing it is becasue they get what they need free ranging. the guys in penthouses get extras like oats and treats and things that crawl out of buckets LOL, and our pigeon and polish and seabrights prefer the deluxe wild bird mix, since our milo just seems to big for htem to eat...
PFAL, that is something, to have someone knowledgeable at the feed store!
Ok great, I have a great feed store that is family owned and ran. Even Toby Keith uses this feed store.
Ok now when do I start them on it. I want to have everything here and ready when them babies arrive. I have the small feeders and water jugs for them just need to get them bleached and dried out for them. I also know there is something I will need for their water, I can get that at feed store or atwoods. Also at our atwoods the lady that works there is very dedicated and knows just about everything about her birds. They dont have any or I would have gotten them from there. They wont have any until September and I really didnt want to have to winter over young ones. I still might tho.
Thanks
Mine never liked the oats much either. Love the rolled corn though, will eat the oats as last resort it seems. Don't go with the barley, it just gets left.
So sorry, been too many years. Believe they need the antibotic's in the starter mash for at least 6mo's. But my free ranged banty's chicks eat what mama teaches them to eat. Give them the layer crumble. Seem to do just fine without starter. Let me know & I can look it up when I get back home (in Cali for a few days).
i got my first egg friday, and another one yesterday! i am so eggcited!