The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Jon Feather on August 12, 2015, 06:39:02 am

Title: Chicks with mother hen; feeding question
Post by: Jon Feather on August 12, 2015, 06:39:02 am

Don't usually rear chicks in the natural way.  Usually use an incubator but we currently have 3 GL wyandotte bantams with cockerel that have 2 chicks, about a week old.  The family of birds have ad-lib pellets and a scratch feed of corn in the morning.  Should I leave it at this or would you suggest something else?
I have tried a dish of chick crumb but the adult birds polish it off double quick.

PS: separating the mother and chicks isn't practical.

Title: Re: Chicks with mother hen; feeding question
Post by: twizzel on August 12, 2015, 08:40:45 am

Put all of them on chick crumb, layers pellets are not suitable for chicks and can cause growth problems due to the high amounts of calcium in them.

Title: Re: Chicks with mother hen; feeding question
Post by: Jon Feather on August 12, 2015, 08:45:50 am

I like that suggestion.  Im due to buy another sack today anyway. Cheers.

Title: Re: Chicks with mother hen; feeding question
Post by: Eve on August 12, 2015, 09:28:14 am

I agree, I do the same as twizzel. The big ones will enjoy it, and the hens won't be laying anyway.


I thought the excess calcium caused kidney problems (too?) in non-layers.

Title: Re: Chicks with mother hen; feeding question
Post by: Kimbo on August 12, 2015, 02:20:47 pm

Agreed. Layers pellets are bad news for chicks. And chicks need higher protein , especially in their first 6 weeks of growth