help my girls lay

Start with Layena and see how it goes. If you see a problem, which you shouldn't but if you do then adjust from there.

Here is a good thread on Layena's pros and cons. Layena, to use or not to use I don't like soy in my feed but it doesn't seem to hurt the hens so I suggest you start there and see how it goes.

Jim

I have read that you shouldn't switch to layer feed until they are laying... but I am just as confused as you are!  My girls are a few days shy of 20 weeks and I am chomping at the bit for the appearance of the first egg!!  Good luck to you

I've never fed layer feed before.  My girls just lay when they are of age.  We feed grains and garden leftovers.

Layer feed doesn't have anything in it to cause them to lay eggs.  The reason to wait until they are laying to feed layer is that it contains extra calcium to replace what is lost to shell production.  That is calcium they do not need if they aren't producing shells.  Excess calcium can be harmful to a growing bird's organ development so starting sooner than the bag recommends is never a good idea.

Personally, I waited to switch with my mixed flock until they were all laying.  I just served oyster shell in a small container and those that needed it were happy to get their extra calcium that way.  Those that weren't laying ignored it.

I am a newbie, too, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I still had 1/4 of a bag of grower when I started seeing eggs. Now I'm mixing the grower with layer so I don't waste any food. This was based on what I read here. My eggs have good, even, strong shells. I think the condition of the eggs give us clues to what the girls need nutritionally. Good in, good out.
 

I fed starter until my chicks became pullets.  Then fed scratch until my hens were close to egg laying time (in weeks) and started to supplement them with 16% Nuturina laying pellets.  I guess any 16%-20% layer pellet would do.  I dont "free choice" my birds (except for calcium and grit) but feed them in the mornings.  18 birds eat 24 oz of feed a day.  I would recomend 1/4 to 1/2 of the feed being a layer type feed. With grass hoppers in the afternoons, I have healthy Orphingtons who lay a egg 5 out of 7 days a week.