10 month old girls prefer grower feed

[NutsaboutChooks]

Novice chooks keeper needs advice. I have two 10-month old girls (Henlena and Henrietta) who loved their Layers pellets until I introduced 4 14-week old girlies and their growers crumble to the run. My older girls will not even look at the pellets now and keep gobbling down the crumble. I would not mind but I have one concern. When they were on Layers pellet, one of the 10-month olds had an issue with egg shells. They were usually very thin and whiter, almost translucent in appearance. Since they both got on the growers crumble, the eggs are perfect! Is it something with the Layers feed? Please advise.

 

[Folly's place]

I always have a separate dish of oyster shell available, regardless of the feed available. Mary

 

[Chris09]

,

 

[NutsaboutChooks]

I do too. Oyster shells and grit. I rarely see them eat it though.

 

[Chris09]

Novice chooks keeper needs advice. I have two 10-month old girls (Henlena and Henrietta) who loved their Layers pellets until I introduced 4 14-week old girlies and their growers crumble to the run. My older girls will not even look at the pellets now and keep gobbling down the crumble. I would not mind but I have one concern. When they were on Layers pellet, one of the 10-month olds had an issue with egg shells. They were usually very thin and whiter, almost translucent in appearance. Since they both got on the growers crumble, the eggs are perfect! Is it something with the Layers feed? Please advise.

What brand is the Grower and the Layer?

One of the reason for the odd eggs could have been the lack of protein, do you feed a lot of treats?
This may also help;

Protein, Adequate levels of lysine and Methionine is need to produce good egg shells. When pullets begin laying, there is an increase in protein, vitamin and mineral requirements per day due to deposition in the egg. If dietary protein is too low or the amino acid requirements are not met, poor egg production and hatchability will occur.

Calcium, The egg shell is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. The pullet's requirement for calciumis relatively low during the growing period, but when the first eggs are produced, the need is increased at least four times, with practically all of the increase being used for the productionof eggshells. Inadequate calcium consumption will result in decreased egg production and loweregg shell quality.
Hens store calcium in medullary bone, a specialized bone capable of rapid calcium turnover. As calcium stores are depleted, bones become brittle. In severe cases, hens are unable tostand. The condition is known as caged-layer fatigue. Birds on the ground or on litter floorsrecycle calcium and phosphorus through consumption of feces, and do not have caged-layer fatigue.
Calcium can be supplied in the diet as either ground limestone or oyster shell. Particlesize affects calcium availability. Usually the larger the particle size, the longer the particlewill be retained in the upper digestive tract. This means that the larger particles of thecalcium source are released more slowly, and this may be important for the continuity of shellformation, especially in the dark period when birds do not ordinarily eat.
Periodically, dolomitic limestone is offered to the feed industry. However, dolomitic limestone(which is used in the steel industry) should never be used in poultry diets. Dolomitic limestonecontains at least 10% magnesium, and this complexes with calcium or competes with calcium forabsorption sites in the intestines. The consequence of feeding dolomitic limestone is inducedcalcium deficiency.
Young birds should not be fed a high calcium layer diet because the calcium/phosphorus ratiowill be unbalanced, resulting in increased morbidity or mortality.

Phosphorus, The nutritional role of phosphorus is closely related to that of calcium. Both are constituentsof bone. The ratio of dietary calcium to phosphorus affects the absorption of both these elements;an excess of either one impedes absorption and can reduce egg production, shell quality and/orhatchability.
In addition to its function in bone, phosphorus plays a primary role in carbohydrate metabolism,is active in fat metabolism, and helps to regulate the acid-base balance of the body

Vitamin D, Vitamin D is required for normal calcium absorption and utilization. If inadequate levelsof vitamin D are fed, induced calcium deficiency quickly results and egg production decreases.
Feed grade vitamin D comes in two forms, D2 and D3. In most animals, both are equally potent. In birds, however, D3 is substantially more active than D2. In poultry diets, therefore, vitamin D must be supplied in the form of D3.

Magnesium, Magnesium is needed for healthy bones, proper nervous system functioning, and energy metabolism.

Fat, Dietary fat is a source of energy and of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid. A deficiency of linoleic acid will adversely affect egg production. Dietary fats also serve as "carriers"of fat-soluble vitamins, and some fat is necessary for absorption of vitamins. In fact, impairmentof the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) is the most serious consequence of a dietary deficiency of fat.

The general make up of a egg shell is --
Calcium carbonate.............................................................:94-97%
Phosphorus.......................................................................:0.3%
Magnesium........................................................................:0.2%
Sodium, Potassium, Manganese, Iron and Copper............:traces
Organic matter...................................................................:< 2%

 

[NutsaboutChooks]

Both Layers and Growers feed is BlueSeal brand. The only difference is pellet vs crumble. Can they be that picky? The hens are also allowed to roam free about 2 hours a day under my supervision. Otherwise they are in an enclosed run. Treats: every few days, depends on what I have: watermellon during the summer, tomatoes and grapes. On weekends when we indulge in scrambled eggs for breakfast I crumble up the shells (4-6 egg worth). They love that. No other treats. I never deviated from the diet as I'm a noobee. I don't mind them eating the growers feed I was just curious. Thanks guys for help.

 

[Chris09]

Ok, is it Blue Seals Home Fresh line?
If so are you using there Chick N Game Starter-Grower or there Grow and Show also I assume that your using there Extra Egg as your layer?

Or are you using there Organic Life line?

 

[ryandaymude]

It could be they like crumbles more so try the layer in crumbles