Changing over to layer feed with different ages in the flock

[lhines08]

We have 12 week old pullets and 8 week old pullets together. I've attached two pictures of the feed labels. The brand we feed Country road does not have unmedicated grower feed. If I make the switch to layer feed when the oldest pullets are 16 weeks will it hurt the younger which would only be 12 weeks old? Not sure what to do!!
I dont want to be eating eggs with medicated feed in their systems do I?

 

[pony007]

Another option would be to get a different brand of unmedicated starter/grower or an all flock feed and just feed that along with free choice oyster shell. They should only go for the oyster shell if they need it, and it gives everyone good protein so it covers all your bases. Im no expert however, its just what has worked for my ladies.

 

[Brooks_]

Another option would be to get a different brand of unmedicated starter/grower or an all flock feed and just feed that along with free choice oyster shell. They should only go for the oyster shell if they need it, and it gives everyone good protein so it covers all your bases. Im no expert however, its just what has worked for my ladies.

X2
I'll add that neither group should have layer until they are laying.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I recommend all flock/flock raiser and free choice oyster shell. For almost every flock and situation - but particularly flocks of mixed gender or ages.

and its perfectly safe to eat eggs (or flesh) from chickens getting medicated feed according to the FDA. Amprolium is an organic thiamine antagonist (blocker). Its not an antibiotic, its not a pesticide, insecticide, or any other "ide". Its not a heavy metal, and doesn't build up to toxic levels over time. Its effects can be overcome by taking a common B vitamin or multivitamin with typical B-1 levels, or eating an extra bowl of vitamin enriched breakfast cereal.

"Layer Feed", otoh is a low cost, low protein feed with extra calcium - about 4x as much as in the typical starter, grower, flock raiser, or all flock. That excess calcium DOES build up in birds who can't use it all (non-laying hens, roosters) mostly in the liver, where it can cause premature death (but absent autopsy, its hard to know what caused most chickens to die, and sometimes even then...). How much more frequently, and how much shorter average lifespan can't be reduced to a formula - there is a time component and a dosage component, like most poisons, as well as a lot of individual variation.

I could link lots of studies, but the summary is here:
(from Merck Veterinary Manual)

 

[Folly's place]

I too feed everyone an all-flock feed, with oyster shell in a separate feeder. Easy! Safe! Nobody is getting too much calcium, and the 20% protein is a better choice for all the birds.
Here we haven't had a problem with coccidiosis in our chicks, so we haven't fed medicated chick starter. It is a safer choice until and if you find that your soil won't be a problem for those chicks, until they have been on your ground for two weeks or so.
Transitioning everyone in your flock to an unmedicated all-flock feed after they have been on your ground will work very well, and have oyster shell out there after at least one pullet is actually laying eggs.
Buy fresh feed! Here it's Purina's Flock Raiser, which we can get within a month of the mill date in each bag, and feed within another month. Your choices may be different, and that's fine too.
Mary

 

[neo71665]

All flock with oyster shell on the side is your answer

 

[U_Stormcrow]

as @Folly's place notes, "extra" Protein is good for your flock - it helps meaties put on weight, it helps birds in molt get thru it faster and with less stress. You can have too much protein - 24%+ is said to be bad for ducks, but the typical flock raiser/all flock is going to come in between 18-20%, which is a good place for anything not a game bird, and a decent ratio of feed cost (protein in feed is expensive) to benefit (in terms of weight gain, improved flock health) ratio.

I mix my own feed from local mills, using a bag of game bird grower (24%) mixed to two bags of lower protein feed - the gbg is about 30% more expensive per 50# than a layer feed would be. (If the local mill would produce an "all flock" I'd be thrilled - but its either game bird or layer, with little in the middle.