14-15 week old layers: continue on starter, or switch to layer?

[woodlumn]

Hi!

I have a small flock of 5 Rhode Island Reds and two Orpingtons. They're all about 15 weeks old except for one RIR hen, who is about 18 weeks. Two of the flock are roosters.

None of them are laying yet (at least anywhere I can find), and I'm about out of starter feed. I'd hate to buy another 50lb bag of starter only to have to switch soon, then again if that one 18 week old isn't laying yet, maybe the others won't for another month either, and a 50lb bag usually lasts me about a month.

Is there harm in switching to layer at 15 weeks if they're not yet laying?

Thank you for your suggestions!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Since they will rip right through another bag of Grower, I'd stay on it. You can buy some calcium source, such as oyster shells and have them available. Layer is just Grower, essentially, with added calcium. All feed has calcium, it is just that Layer has a larger amount for laying birds. There is no rule or law that says that the birds NEED to ever be fed Layer. Many, many people never buy Layer. They just feed a high quality Grower or Raiser type feed to everyone, all the time. It makes life simple.

 

[woodlumn]

Thank you for the advice, Fred!

If I put out oyster shell, will the non-layers eat it too, or do they know enough to lay off it (no pun intended)?

Thanks again.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Non layers typically have little interest in the shells, as their bodies are not demanding it.