[bloomer]

my first batch of chicks are now 4 weeks old and need moving into the big pen (i dont have space currently to keep them separate) i know the chicks cant have layers so for the next 8 to 12 weeks can the laying ladies eat growers safely?

[in the hills]

I think at 4 weeks the chicks are too young to move into the main pen. Do you mean they will actually be in with the main adult flock? If so they are too young to protect themselves and could be injured or killed.

[bloomer]

we have 5 chooks excluding chicks currently the bigger chicks (4 weeks old) have been in the big pen for a week with mum protecting them they have there own sleeping quarters though (although i keep finding them all in the main house)


i'll check the growers ingredients...

[sandalfarm]

Why can chicks not have layers pellets? Besides the size of the food would the chicks be deficient in something,we ground some pellets down and with fresh green stuff and tiny worms they seem to be doing well

[HesterF]

Layers have additional calcium in which is not great for young birds. Growers is lower in protein than layers - I checked the other day - but I'm not sure what effect that would have. I'd have thought the main problem would be the lower calcium for your laying hens so you'd have to provide additional soluble grit for them.

My first hatched chicks and ducks of the year (now 10 and 9 weeks respectively) are up in the main run but in separate pens from the adult birds. Normally the ducks wouldn't be a problem but one of the adult drakes clearly sees the younger ones as a threat and one time managed to break through and try and destroy one of the younger ones (and they're really not that much smaller). On the other hand, the cockerel in the pen next to the chicks has shown no interest in them. I wouldn't want to risk it with four week olds though - my second phase of chicks hatched 17th April and they're not going up yet awhiles - not least because I think they're still small enough a crow would have them.

[waddy]

I'm still a novice hen keeper so no expert. I have heard that there is too much calcium in the layers for birds not needing the calcium for egg laying. The young birds kidneys could be at risk.


Helen

[lord flynn]

I think its more important in bantams and very small breeds but too much protein too young can cause problems in growth rates-same as in other species. The main problem is the calcium levels.

[Marches Farmer]

How recently have you wormed the older birds?  Putting chicks onto "old" ground carries a health risk.

[chrismahon]

4 weeks is too young to put chicks on growers. They start at 6-8 and switch to layers at point of lay.
4 weeks is far too young to put them in with adults. Risk they will be eaten! Shouldn't mix until point of lay at which time the enclosure size needs to be increased to avoid territory fighting.
Growers and layers have very similar protein levels. But with the reduced Calcium in growers the layers will see their bones depleted quickly and thin shelled eggs result. Note that the process of shelling an egg is not from calcium in the food but Calcium stored in the bones. It is lost from the bones and replaced via the feed.