Free Chicken Food

[Sue - F]

Hi, I've only just joined the forum, just had some good advice on tatties..!
Anyway, my OH just bought the wrong food for our layers, he brought home growers pellets instead of layers, unfortunately he has opened the bag so we can't change them, so if anyone is interested it's the best part of a 20k bag, just come and collect them - we're in Warrington.

[frias]

Hi Sue, welcome to chooks-aholic. Not sure what the experts would advise but providing the growers doesn't contain medication I would mix it in with the layers. That's what I did anyway and it didn't make any difference to the hens that were already laying.

[Sue - F]

I thought of doing that but thought it might make the shells thin, was it ok when you did it then ?

[frias]

No problem with soft shells but I do have bowls of crushed oyster shell in the run and also spread some on the ground every week. Some chick crumb and growers have anti cocci medication in which shouldn't be given to laying hens as it can be passed on in the eggs. Also not to be given if the chickens are for eating. Having said that all the pheasants bread for shooting season are fed growers and it does have the medication in. ( I've seen it written on the sacks.) I also know that lots of the hunters eat the pheasant eggs with no ill effects.