Definition of laying in reference to transitioning from grow feed to laying feed.

[DennisS]

How do you define laying? Is it at the first egg or do all or most of the hens have to be laying? This is critical for the health of the birds, laying feed can damage their insides. To date, I have five eggs and six birds, there appears to be a difference in the hue of some of them (the eggs), two appear to be from one hen and three from another. I also have a size difference in eggs so as many as three could be involved.

Thanks

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

Do they all appear to be at point of lay? You can probably transition over if so.

 

[DennisS]

I am afraid I don't have a discerning eye because I don't know what to look for to tell if they are at the point of laying. The only thing that is obvious to these old eyes is that a couple are laying.

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

Do they all have bright red and full combs? Are they squatting when you reach down to pet them? How old are they?

 

[DennisS]

They are 19 weeks today. Four of them squat when I try to pet them. One is skittish when I reach for her, and her comb is not full.

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

They are 19 weeks today. Four of them squat when I try to pet them. One is skittish when I reach for her, and her comb is not full.

As long as you give your laying girls oyster shells on the side you should stick with what you are feeding them now until any pale combs turn red and they all are eating oyster shells and/or squatting. Then you should transition over to layer feed.

 

[DennisS]

Thanks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If most of them are laying, and you want to switch them over (especially if you're going to finish up a bag of grower feed soon) it's "close enough" to switch over IMO.