The Poultry Keeper

Ros · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 8 Location: West Sussex

We keep the 2 chicks with the hen in a separate hut and run from the other hens. Our question is whether at this age it would matter if they ate the hen's small holder's mix? They also have their own supply of chick crumbs.

Secondly, should the chicks' run be protected from rain (it is a wood and wire netting frame) or can they be trusted to retire inside their hut when it gets too wet?

Any guidance would be gratefully accepted.

CP · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:37 am Post subject:

They will be fine on chick crumbs up to around 6-8 weeks, together with mum until she starts laying again.

Generally the chicks will cuddle under mum's feathers if the weather gets too cold & wet. I would only cover if there was a prolonged cold spell or torrential rain. Wink

Ros · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 8 Location: West Sussex

CP

Many thanks. Do I take it that they will tend to ignore the hen's feed and prefer their own crumbs? I only want to clarify if there is any danger to them in being contact with her feed.

Ros

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1402 Location: Manchester

I think mum will guide them to eat what she is eating - if they are outside and have access to grit then I can't see an immediate problem with feeding them a grain based mix - they might not get enough protein for growth though... Someone with more nutritional knowledge might be able to help more.

CP · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject:

Even if they have outside access we still only feed both chicks & mum with chick crumb until 6-8 weeks but ours are bantams so a lot smaller than LF.
We think the growers pellets are a bit too large for them until around this age.

Mind you, they'd probably wolf them down with no problems but we just don't take the chance. Wink

mojo · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject:

chick crumbs for first 6 weeks to get them off to a good start then growers(grind smaller if needed....i use the coffee grinder when mrs mojo is at choir. oh yes i clean it carefully before she returns) for another 2weeks then growers from the bag

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 323 Location: Norfolk

My chicks eat whatever they can cram into their beaks Laughing

They have chick crumb, eat the layers mix, grit,chopped egg, bread, pasta, etc and anything that gets in their coop/run. If you have seen the pics of them you will see that they are growing well and at 6 weeks are pretty big Shocked

Most animals have a pretty good sense on what they can and cant eat, with only a few taking something a bit to big or not good for them. Nature is an amazing thing Smile

Keep smilin
Elly

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject:

I too feed broody and chicks chick crumbs for the first 5-6 weeks. If I am lucky enough to have a broody.