17 weeks old, swicth feed to layer?

[rsarns]

My chicks are 17 weeks old (14 or them) and the others in the coop are 3 weeks younger. They are all about the same size except a 10 week old Wheaten Marans cockerel I added. The other Cockerel is 17 weeks old. My question is in preperation for the hens to start laying I switched their food from chick grow to layer feed. WIll this be ok for the cockerels also, as the one is 10-11 weeks old right now. I also give them plenty of grass, weeds and treats daily. The older hens are RIR, White Leghorns (at least thats what I have been told, they were supposed to be RI whites), speckled Sussex, cuckoo Marans and BSL and Langshans. The older cockerel is a cuckoo Marans that is huge and very loud!

 

[galanie]

There is some evidence that the extra calcium in layer is not good for a roo or cockerel. But people have been feeding their roos layer food for years and don't see ill effects. The 10-11 week old though, I'm not so sure about feeding that to him. I don't know how old they have to be for the extra calcium to no longer pose a problem to chicks in general.

 

[florida lee]

I put oyster shell in a seperate container ( a dual container, grit on one side and Oyster shell on the other), the younger birds ( 13 wks) don't bother with it and continue to feed start and grow to all until younger ones are old enough (probably another 4 wks). the older ones are 18 wks.
My problem is the older ones are picking on the younger one constantly.

 

[Silverose]

I switched to grower/finisher and put out oyster shell, mine are about 20 weeks I believe, only 3 are laying. once I run out of this bag of feed I'll probably switch to layer, but this was bought only a couple days before my first egg.

 

[urban-chick-mom]

My girls are 18 weeks today. I have 25 lbs of all purpose food left. Today I stopped at the feed store and bought layer food. They told me to mix it 50/50 into their feeder until the all purpose food is gone. Also, bought oyster shells and have them in a separate container. No eggs yet but hopefully my White Leghorn is getting close. Keep waiting!

 

[JodyJo]

I have a mixed flock as well, pullets, roos and 9 week olds...I am still feeding starter/grower (till the little ones reach POL), with oyster shell on the side...good for everyone. I will switch to layer feed or flock raiser when they all reach POL

 

[CarlaS]

On most feed bags it will say at 18 weeks switch 2 layer.

 

[rsarns]

I have some of the chick feed left, I think I will mix them for now. Great suggestions from everyone, thanks!

 

[BoltonChicken]

I put oyster shell in a seperate container ( a dual container, grit on one side and Oyster shell on the other), the younger birds ( 13 wks) don't bother with it and continue to feed start and grow to all until younger ones are old enough (probably another 4 wks). the older ones are 18 wks.

This is the way you do it....