16 week olds and laying feed.

[bigcountry1009]

I have some 16 week old black Australorps. I've been feeding them layer feed for about a month. But they also are sort of free range. They are in a tractor moved daily. I understand there calcium issues with very young chicks.

 

[Den in Penn]

Likely the calcium has done little harm with them being free ranged. If it was the sole food since they were hatched then it may well have damaged their kidneys. Really any chicken that isn't laying doesn't need the four percent calcium in layer feed, their kidneys can have problems just like the chicks. Its always tough to tell where their exposure falls on the damage no damage line.

 

[Judy]

Agreed. That was a little young for my preference, but i've read of others changing to layer that young without a problem. In the future, keep in mind that laying hens 9and roosters) do fine on chick starter or grower. If it's for more than a couple of weeks, just put out oyster shell in a separate container.