I am new to chickens. I have both some for laying and some broilers. I only have one pen until hubby gets around to building another one. I have to switch them from the chick starter food. My question is since I have them all in the same pen is it better to switch them all to broiler feed or layer feed? Hopefully by the time I get my next batch of broilers they will have their own pen.

-- anita (anitaholton@mindspring.com), September 28, 2001

Answers

feed them the same,,till you start getting the eggs,, by then , the broilers should be ready to butcher

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 28, 2001.

I agree with Stan. I have had to have them mixed together like that before too. You will love next time when you have them separate. It IS possible with them together though. Whatever you have to do. Good luck!!

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), September 28, 2001.

Anita, I feed laying mash to everybody. If you have the Cornish-Rock crosses for broilers, you need to feed them a higher protein feed, so may want to separate them and save a little money.

-- Karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), September 28, 2001.

I'm going to assume all chicks are the same age. Young chicks should not have laying mash because there is too much calcium and could kill them. Your broilers will be ready to butcher way before you get your first egg. Higher protein broiler mash is also recomended for heavy brown laying type chicks. Switch over to laying mash at about 4 1\2 to five months, and butcher any huge turkey like broilers who still lurk around, unless you want a few huge 16-20lb birds. Good luck

-- Sherrie R Clifton (BryrPatch35@aol.com), September 29, 2001.

To save some money, you can feed them all 12% sweet feed for horses, it runs about 5 dollars for a 50 pound bag around here, I get just as many eggs with it as laying mash. Feed oyster shell and grit free choice too.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), October 01, 2001.