Isabel Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Hi, quick question. Chicks are 7 weeks old and have been free-ranging with Mum and the other 2 hens for the last fortnight. Anyway, they have their chick crumb in their run which is open and they have free access to come and go all day. The other hens have layers pellets. I noticed the chicks eating the layers yesterday and honestly couldn't say whether they've been eating their crumb (DH let's them out and tops up food so I must check with him when he let filled it up). Would it be best to leave Mum and chicks locked in their run for an hour in the morning to ensure they're eating the crumb before letting them out to f/range? Don't want to stop them free-ranging as the run is a mud bath and they love being out and about. Thanks Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isobel Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Hi Isabel. Isn't it wonderful watching chicks run round with their mother and changing and growing every day! I have two lots at the moment, 11 weeks and four weeks. For both lots I have kept them in a run during the day with their mums and their chick crumb and then let them out after work to free range with their mums, just so I know they've had their tucker. Also, I have lots of grown up hens who just go and gorge themselves on the chick crumb all day long if I leave them all to do their thing! And it's jolly expensive compared with pellets! Maybe you could do "some and some" like you suggest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 I put my chicks on grower pellets at 6 weeks old and i have had 8 weeks old run all the time with my older girls i just made half growers and half layers mix and they were fine i know people who dont even bother with growers they just put their chicks straight from chickcrumb onto layers leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 It isn't a good idea for chicks so young to be eating layers pellets. The calcium content is way to high for them. They should be on growers pellets now. I'd find a way of preventing their access to the layers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 Personally I would move all of them on to growers pellets. it wont do the others any harm I once had a lovely pullet whose growth was stunted because she was fed the wrong type of food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 Thanks for all the ideas guys! I think what will work best for our set up is to let everyone have growers for a while ... Yes, the other hens are stuffing themselves with chick crumb! And the little ones plus Mum are bored silly closed into a 9' run ... they're going further away from base every day. I must get some pics and ask for confirmation that zi have one boy and one girl but I don't think there's any doubt! The girl is so pretty Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Personally I would move all of them on to growers pellets. it wont do the others any harm Genius. Simply genius! Never thought of this! Means I can do intros with my pekins a bit earlier! Thanks for the idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
