22 weeks, not laying yet, okay to switch to Layer feed?

[chickenbike]

My girls are coming up 22 weeks old at the end of the week. They aren't laying yet, but I've read that Chanteclers are slow to mature and should start laying around 24 weeks. I have about 5 days worth of Pullet Finisher crumbles left. Am I okay to start mixing in the layer pellets? I already have the bag of layer pellets as I wasn't certain when they would start to lay.

 

[digitS']

If I had that choice, I'd do it.

Steve

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

If your chick starter is medicated, you definitely want them off that by the time they lay eggs. i tend to switch my kids out to layer crumbles at about 18 weeks, whether they are laying or not.

 

[chickenbike]

Thanks for the replies. No, they are no on medicated starter, they finished that a while ago. They started with medicated chick starter, then had pullet grower/developer, and are currently on pullet finisher.

I didn't want to put them on layer feed until I saw an egg. I'm figuring that given their age now, I should see an egg in a couple of weeks or so. Given my 4-5 days worth of pullet finisher feed left, they will be starting on layer feed at 22.5 - 23 weeks of age (with or without the presence of a first egg). I just want to make sure it's okay to start the layer feed without actually seeing an egg. I believe that given their age it should be okay, but thought I'd get other's opinions.