New chicks with older flock

[cswittmaack]

This last summer my hen was laying on about 20 eggs, after 4 chicks hatched they went down the ramp and my hen left the nest and never went back, when I started feeding the chicks the starter food the older hens would eat the chicks food instead of the laying pellets. Do I superate the hen and chicks or just leave it alone and let them eat what they want. "It is January now"

Thanks all for your input.
Chuck.

 

[Doc7]

Switch to an Flock feed and don’t worry about who eats what.

My plan is to feed chick starter while the chick feed is separated from adults by a panic room door cutout. The chicks will have access to their starter and the pullet/hens Flock Raiser. Once the panic room doors are open for chickens of all sizes, both feeders will have Flock Raiser.

I always offer oyster shell on the side.

 

[cswittmaack]

I haven't seen flock feed in our feed stores here. Is it just scratch, a crumble?

I rase the Easter / Araucana chickens

 

[Melky]

I haven't seen flock feed in our feed stores here. Is it just scratch, a crumble?

I rase the Easter / Araucana chickens

No scratch should not be fed if less than 28 weeks it is an adult treat only and should only be 10% or less of total daily diet. The proper diet when old and new in flock is an all flock feed like Flock Raiser or starter grower feed. Put oyster shell on side and use chick grit for baby chicks until 8 weeks then switch to poultry grit on the side as well.

 

[Doc7]

I haven't seen flock feed in our feed stores here. Is it just scratch, a crumble?

I rase the Easter / Araucana chickens

Purina “Flock raiser” is one brand of what is termed an All-Flock Feed. Means it is good for chicks, ducks, meat birds, laying hens etc. doesn’t have excess calcium that non laying birds don’t need .

 

[cswittmaack]

I always used the chick starter then grower, then when my hens stopped laying i would feed scratch. Will pick up some flock feed at Tractor Supply here when and if they start setting.

Thanks all.
Chuck

 

[cswittmaack]

Have one last question on watering.
I have always heard that it is not good for grown chickens to bend down to drink that they could drown, so I built a PVC watering system with a 30 gal tank that has the nipples that go straight down, but I have seen the sideways watering nipple system but they are low to the grown. can someone elaborate on this.

Thanks

 

[Doc7]

Raise it like such.

Have one last question on watering.
I have always heard that it is not good for grown chickens to bend down to drink that they could drown, so I built a PVC watering system with a 30 gal tank that has the nipples that go straight down, but I have seen the sideways watering nipple system but they are low to the grown. can someone elaborate on this.

Thanks

 

[cswittmaack]

hum, I have seen them on PVC about 3" off ground when I was searching on net, so close to ground is bad.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I always used the chick starter then grower, then when my hens stopped laying i would feed scratch.

If you can't find "all flock" feed then feed all of the chickens starter or grower (and have oyster shell on side for the hens) - it's better to have the hens eat the babies food than vice versa (and you'll probably find the hens prefer it). I was feeding "hatch to hen" to my mixed flock so every brand can have a different name for it.

When the hens aren't laying it's better to feed all flock or grower. Scratch doesn't have added vitamins to make it a complete balanced diet.