Clare L Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 I found myself left with only one hen a couple of weeks ago, so took the plunge yesterday and got 3 little Bantam Orps. They are all in the same run and therefore need to eat the same food. We got given some growers pellets from the person we got the Orps from, which they are all eating today, but wondering if it is OK to let our older hen eat them for a month or so (the orps are 14 weeks), or can the young ones eat layers pellets? Or should I give them a mixture of both? If the older hen eats them, can we continue to eat her eggs - I understand there is something in growers pellets that will be passed onto the eggs, but dont know anything about it. Grateful if anyone can advise. Thanks Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 She should be fine. I think you might be mixing them up with medicated chick crumbs which contain a coccidostat and shouldn't be given to laying hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Your hen should be fine eating the Growers Pellets. I'm no expert but I think it's probably more important that your youngsters continue on Growers for a while longer I've had all my girls on Growers Mash until recently and am still getting lots of eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare L Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 Thank you! I will carry on giving them the growers pellets then. The growers pellets we have been given are from Countrywide which only sell Growers Pellets ACS. I have never used growers pellets as have only had POL before. I thought, but could not find out for definate online, that ACS is a coccidostat? If so, then maybe I should look to get some without ACS in them (assuming that ACS is a coccidostat) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare L Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 Just managed to dig out and dust off the label on the food bag, and the countrywide growers do contain coccidostat. So will try to find somewhere that sells organic pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 fancy feed growers is ACS free. you might find that the egg yolk is a bit pale depending brand of layers pellet you use and you might get thin shells so a few dandilion leaves as a treat wouldn't hurt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare L Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 I found some Small Holder Range growers pellets - luckily they all seem to like them. THanks for the tip on dandelions, will give them some of the guinea pigs leaves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
