Feeding

[Anonymous]

Hi

Just wanted some advice. My babies are 6 weeks old now and I was looking at all the different foods that you can feed them. I just wanted to know at what age can I start feeding them other stuff apart from the chick food I have been giveing them.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[Blue]

growers pellet next - correct protein levels for 6 weekers onwards.
small-length grass, dandelions... just make sure they have access to grit.

Are they going to be layers or meat birds?
layers pellets or mash are the next step, and you can introduce small amount of mixed corn etc as treats

What breed are they?
love babies!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

They are going to be layers. When I ordered the eggs they should have been pekin, but only 2 are pekin, 2 are like silkies and the rest I am not sure of. I have put photos on the photo section to find out if they are hens or roosters. From what others are saying I have got 3 or 4 roosters. So how old before I can start giving them veg and fruit?

Thanks for your help. This is all new to me but I,m learning and enjoying it.

 

[Marigold]

The very experienced breeder I got my chicks from, (they're now now 9 weeks old,) suggested that he likes to give his chicks crumb until they are 7 weeeks and then gradually introduce growers pellets until they on them 100% by 10 weeks. Mine are in a little grass run during the day, with shade, a mesh roof to keep out predators such as cats, and stop them flying out, and if it looks like rain I cover the roof with clear plastic sheet because they're not fully feathered yet and shouldn't get wet. It's really good to give them protected access to good grass and really they don't need anything else if they're also given the choice of good-quality growers pellets. If you want to give them veg and fruit this is OK, but don't overdo it as they need room in their crops for the nourishment threy get from thier pellets, and the nutrients in grass are the best natural green food for them. Don't give them any human food scraps. Keep them on the growers pellets until they're 20 weeks if possible as until then they'll still be growing and shouldn't be exposed to the high calcium levels found in layers pellets as this may be harmful to their bone development.