BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Did I feed lay pellets too soon?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Did I feed lay pellets too soon?

post #1 of 7
10/27/11 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 

Hi there I need some help. I am new to chicken raising. I had two hens start laying and four pullets. I fed them all lay pelletd when the two hens started laying. Now my 4 pullets are 23 weeks and no sign of laying. Could the lay pellet harmed them? One is a RIR, 2 easter egger and one BCM. The two laying are an orpington and california white.

I appreciate any feedback. I am not losing patience yet...more concerned at this point.

Reply
Reply
post #2 of 7
10/27/11 at 11:56pm

Well, I am no expert, but I doubt seriously you could do any damage feeding lay pellets to pullets.  I'd go to the feedstore and compare labels and see just how different the nutritional breakdown is for lay pellets compared to the starter/growth type feeds.

NOW WE HAVE EGGS!!!     
Reply
NOW WE HAVE EGGS!!!     
Reply
post #3 of 7
10/28/11 at 12:11am

I'm fairly new to this too (raised my girls from chicks but just got my first egg yesterday.)  But I don't think the lay pellets harmed them. Could be lots of other things. There's a topic in this section called something like "Why aren't my chickens laying?". Its a permanent top-posted topic with pointers for new chicken owners like us. I found it really helpful; hopefully you will too.

We bought the farm! 11 acres of the most beautiful farmland with plenty of potential (and lots of room for chickens!).

50+ Marans, Welsummer, and Ameraucana chicks have joined our flock of five adult city girls. (They have a Country Boy roo, too!) 1 each of Ameraucana, RIR, Welsummer, Barred Plymouth Rock, and Golden Laced Wyandotte. Mom to a toddler and 3 cats, wife to an adventurous,...

Reply

We bought the farm! 11 acres of the most beautiful farmland with plenty of potential (and lots of room for chickens!).

50+ Marans, Welsummer, and Ameraucana chicks have joined our flock of five adult city girls. (They have a Country Boy roo, too!) 1 each of Ameraucana, RIR, Welsummer, Barred Plymouth Rock, and Golden Laced Wyandotte. Mom to a toddler and 3 cats, wife to an adventurous,...

Reply
post #4 of 7
10/28/11 at 12:11am

you can start feeding layer pellets as early as week 16 without doing them any harm.  Layer feed is bad for younger chicks because of the extra calcium, which laying hens need for harder egg shells

Reply
Reply
post #5 of 7
10/28/11 at 7:09am

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=423023

here is that thread....maybe they just aren't ready yet...some chickens take a long time to lay...

Live in Colorado....1 Calif. white, 2 Australorp, 3 Barred Rock, 1 Gold Comet, 2 Black Sex link, 3 EE pullets, 1 Golden Duckwing roo, 1 EE/Old English Game mix roo,1 silkie/cochin mix, & 1 Production  red
Reply
Live in Colorado....1 Calif. white, 2 Australorp, 3 Barred Rock, 1 Gold Comet, 2 Black Sex link, 3 EE pullets, 1 Golden Duckwing roo, 1 EE/Old English Game mix roo,1 silkie/cochin mix, & 1 Production  red
Reply
post #6 of 7
10/28/11 at 5:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleTommy 

you can start feeding layer pellets as early as week 16 without doing them any harm.  Layer feed is bad for younger chicks because of the extra calcium, which laying hens need for harder egg shells


Thank you for that information I really appreciate how much support this forum offers!  I am safe, did not feed it to them before 16 weeks.

Reply
Reply
post #7 of 7
10/28/11 at 5:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JodyJo 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=423023

here is that thread....maybe they just aren't ready yet...some chickens take a long time to lay...


Thank you I will read thru the thread.

Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Did I feed lay pellets too soon?