Feeding Chicks and Layers Together
Bringing baby chicks home to add to your existing flock? Feeding different age groups properly is key to keeping everyone healthy and thriving. Here’s what you need to know.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- When integrating baby chicks with adult hens, manage their nutritional needs carefully.
- Chicks should eat a chick starter crumble until about 16 weeks for proper development.
- Adult hens need layer feed for egg production, which provides necessary calcium.
- Adult hens can nibble on chick starter but should have oyster shell available for calcium.
- Chicks should primarily eat chick starter; layer feed is not suitable long-term due to calcium content.
Why Feeding Matters During Integration
When you introduce chicks to an established flock, you’re managing two different nutritional needs. Chicks require a starter feed for growth, while adult hens need a layer feed for egg production.
What Should Chicks Eat?
Baby chicks and juveniles should eat a chick starter crumble until they reach about 16 weeks of age. This feed provides the protein and nutrients they need for strong development.
What Should Adult Hens Eat?
Adult hens should continue eating a layer pellet or crumble formulated for egg production. These feeds contain added calcium for strong shells and balanced nutrition for consistent laying.
Can Adults Eat Chick Starter?
Yes, adult hens may nibble on chick starter feed, often as a dominance behavior. It won’t harm them, but chick starter lacks calcium, so make sure to offer oyster shell free choice for your layers.
Can Chicks Eat Layer Feed?
Chicks generally ignore pellets, but if they eat a small amount, it won’t hurt them. The calcium content in layer feed is not ideal for chicks long-term, so keep chick starter available until they mature.
What About Medicated Chick Starter?
If you’re feeding medicated chick starter, there’s no withdrawal time for the medication, and it’s not an antibiotic. Eggs from adult hens remain safe to eat even if they sample the medicated feed.
