Chicken bald back

[Dahato3]

I have a group of hens which are now 17 weeks old. These include 2 black rocks, a speckled Sussex and a Hugh buff Sussex. Up until 3 weeks ago they were housed separately and fed on growers pellets. Due to their growth and for practical reasons they have been moved into my main run with my existing flock. This integration went very well as they have been introduced gradually.

 

My reason for my post is because when they were all mixed they had access to layers pellets as some of my older hens were still laying. In the past I have always kept my growers on growers pellets for as long as possible but I felt it was safer that laying hens were kept away from growers pellets and a friend who has kept chickens for 20+ years assured me it would be fine. I've never been comfortable and reading on line it seems this can be harmful in later life. So I am now worrying about my decision.

 

As all my hens (except1) have stopped laying and are in moult can I feed all of my hens growers pellets for a while or would this be an equally bad move?

 

Apologies for the lengthy post but I'm now full of regret and worry. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[sjp]

laying hens are all right to have growers feed as long as it's not medicated but at 17 weeks old growers are ok to go onto layers as they have more or less done the bulk of their growing that can be adversely affected by eating layers pellets

[Purplemaniacs]

I don't think layers will do the younger ones any harm, certainly in the past when I have bought POL I fed them layers but since hatching some chicks last year and learning more about feeding I think I would feed them all on growers until the new ones come into lay. Growers won't hurt the older girls and I know some people who feed all their chooks on growers.

 

Enjoy your new girls.

 

Chrissie

[Plum]

Growers is fine and will help the old girls grow feathers. Just have some shell in a cup in case they want it

[Chickabee]

I've got a mixture of ages, so they are on growers and layers. They were all on growers at one point. I throw grit on the floor for when the girls are scratching. Also give them corn which has some grit in, every evening. They all seem very well

[Dahato3]

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to reply. I feel much happier now