Age and food questions

[fluffyxx]

So, I am kind of wondering about when my chickens start laying eggs, and their food requirements. I'm assuming that my chicks are just about 10 weeks old-ish? The girl at TSC said that the chicks were about 1 week old when I bought them, I bought them on April 12th or 13th. Anyways, I was supposed to start the next step up in chicken feed after the Starter Feed. However, my dad went to Tractor Supply for me, and came back with just scratch instead of the Grower or whatever comes after the Starter feed, I forget.

And he just went ahead and fed that to them, so the bag is already opened so I guess we'll just use it up with the new bag we get. Anyways, my mom and I are going to get the right bag tomorrow for them. SO! My questions are, do I just follow the bag suggestions for the feeding and age changes for feed? Or should I start the layer feed earlier for them? I have Red Sex Link chicks, and people have told me that they start laying eggs earlier than some breeds. Sorry if this is rather confusing..

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I would just feed them the grower until they start laying then go to layer feed.

 

[fluffyxx]

Alrighty, I wasn't sure if they needed to be eating the layer before they actually started laying.

 

[Buckhunter76]

Although it don't hurt them to start on layer food a little early, could be a better laying start

 

[Den in Penn]

Layer has added calcium to promote strong egg shells. It doesn't have anything else different from other feeds. If they eat the extra calcium before they start to lay it can damage their internal organs. At ten weeks stick to grower, till they lay or are closer to laying.

 

[Buckhunter76]

Layer has added calcium to promote strong egg shells. It does have anything else different from other feeds. If they eat the extra calcium before they start to lay it can damage their internal organs. At ten weeks stick to grower, till they lay or are closer to laying.

Something I learned new today, my Grandma did that for many years and always had successful laying hens. I think people just read more into things today.

 

[Lady Ressler]

I was wondering this too. Once again the books and internet searches fail but BYC members come through. I too thank you for your information.

 

[fluffyxx]

Layer has added calcium to promote strong egg shells. It doesn't have anything else different from other feeds. If they eat the extra calcium before they start to lay it can damage their internal organs. At ten weeks stick to grower, till they lay or are closer to laying.

Oh yes, I meant like once they got closer to when they would start laying eggs. Like maybe a week or two before? I didn't know if I should start them on the layer a little bit ahead of time, or just wait til they started laying. Sorry to be confusing.

If I should start them a little ahead of time, when do Red Sex Links typically start laying? Or are there any "signs" I can look for?

 

[Den in Penn]

The combs and wattles turn redder, the start squatting, and they show and interest in the nests. All signs that they are near lay. Doesn't mean they will lay the next day, just that they are close. With sex links the time of lay is around 18 weeks give or take.

 

[fluffyxx]

Aww I can't wait until they start laying eggs!

Anyways, so would it be okay to switch them over to layer feed maybe like at 15-16 weeks of age? Or should I just wait until I see the first egg? Or maybe start adding some layer feed in with the grower feed, then when I see the first egg, just switch them straight over to the layer?

I'm just paranoid about them having problems with laying, so I want to make sure they get whatever they need to help them out.