Calcium and chicks...

[cecilia501]

I was wondering if anybody knew at what age it is ok for growing chicks to get the extra calcium in a layer feed without hurting their kidneys. Do they need to be laying eggs or just around that age (18 wks or so)? I have two laying hens and three 12 week old chicks and I wondered when I could begin feeding them the same food. I'm keeping them separate but it would be nice to know when it is safe to let them be (and eat) together. Thanks!

 

[chickensforever]

They should be old enough to start transitioning them onto layer feed, just be sure to do it gradually - start at no more than 25% layer feed, and gradually work up to 100% over a week to make sure it doesn't overdose their systems!

 

[digitS']

Cecilia, I'm no expert on this but it is my understanding that the hen rather quickly converts the calcium in her diet into egg shell. Calcium in today's feed will be calcium in tomorrow's eggshell. So, there's a high calcium "turnover rate" within the hen's body.

The shell isn't "built" until the other parts of the egg are finished.

Therefore, a pullet doesn't need the extra calcium until she begins to lay eggs. Layer feed has 4 times the calcium the pullet requires. As chikensforever suggests, the idea would be to limit and transition.

Steve
edited to say: Wait! I just saw the word "week" in rereading chickensforever's post! Your pullets are months from needing all that extra calcium.

 

[MissPrissy]

18 - 20 weeks is an average of when you might see eggs in a prolific layer. Big breeds can take much longer as more of their food energy goes to building and filling out their body. I have had a few eggs at 19 weeks. Most eggs for me always come around 22 - 24 weeks. My polish - little flighty pullets did not lay until 30 weeks. My big lue orp pullet didn't lay her first egg until 27 weeks.

I strongly urge you to wait until you see an egg before switching over to a layer feed.

 

[cecilia501]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll just keep feed them separate so they are as healthy as possible.