[ellied]

I've got the growers onto grower mix completely now, what age do you start on normal size grit and adding in corn? 

This lot are 8 weeks, the younger ones still with the broody and the ones on heat obviously still on chick crumb etc, tho the broody would probably enjoy some grown up food too.

Poor growers are also contending with bees moving into their wee pen, I've posted separately in the coffee lounge section for advice on that but if anyone has had bees crawling around in the ground in a chook run of any age, I'd be grateful for ideas.

[chrismahon]

We start with chick grit, either bought for small birds from the pet shop or normal grit sieved through to get the small bits, with assorted grains at 6 weeks Ellied. It's important not to put 'corn' in with pellets otherwise they will dig it out and waste a lot of feed.


Standard grit can be given 12 weeks onwards. At that age if the bits are too big they won't pick them up.


Chick crumb is fine for building up a broody back to full condition. It's really important the chicks are not given access to layers pellets because they can't handle the excess Calcium until they are about 20 weeks old.


The bees are a problem if one of the chicks gets stung. Can you decoy the bees into jam pots filled with water- spoonful of jam at the bottom then topped up halfway with water?

[ellied]

Thanks, I have chick size and full size grit, just wondering about transition time between given they've moved feed size.  12 weeks it is then.

Re corn, I don't feed together, they get pellets twice a day but I usually give the laying hens some mixed corn in the evening, more in winter but still a bit in summer.  It helps bring them back to a single point after free ranging all day, and I thought it might help encourage the growers into their shed rather than herding them where they or I might step in bee territory.  But I didn't want to give them whole grains if it was too soon or the grit needed to be full size before offering that size of feed..  They don't have access to layers pellets as they're not free ranging with the laying hens.

Working on how to cover the bee area for now, just so I don't stand on it but without making it interesting/high enough that the pullets will jump up on it.  That way hopefully we can co-exist safely until the bees die off naturally, as suggested in the other post.