I bought some 2 month old marans and the breeder I bought them from says he has all his chickens on layer feed, even the chicks thats how he gets them to lay earlier than what they are supposed to, how does this affect the chicks?
Supposedly the extra calcium is hard on kidneys. I feed Gamebird 'Growth and Plumage' to moulting and babies - Gamebird Maintenance with free choice oyster shell to everyone else.
I feed Dumor 20% chick starter till 7wks. Then everyone gets Nutrena Naturewise All Flock 18% with extra ground egg shells in tuna cans screwed to the wall for the laying hens. The ones that aren't laying yet aren't interested in it. But the hens think its a treat lol. Giving layer feed to chicks will fry there kidneys and the extra copper in isn't good either.
