Developer v. Layer Feed

[calebc311]

What are the differences between developer and layer feed? My chickens, who are on Organic Pride feed (developer) have been laying healthy eggs for 2 weeks now. Is there really a need for layer feed or will the regular feed be fine?

 

[kittydoc]

Hi Caleb,

I would highly recommend you switch to layer feed. It has substantially more calcium than developer/grower/finisher (whatever the feed company wants to call it), and a little bit less protein. You'll run into thin shells and broken eggs eventually (sooner rather than later) if you continue feeding developer feed. If you have some left and don't want to store it or waste it, you could add a little bit (maybe 1 part developer to 9 parts layer) to use it up without harming your newly laying girls.

I am a small animal veterinarian and learned everything I know about chickens as a flock owner and by doing lots of research and reading. Trust me on this one. There is a lot I don't know, but this feeding question is one can help with. We actually start our pullets on layer feed when they hit four months old, since we know they will be laying within 4-6 weeks, but it is not essential to do that. Once they start laying, though, they really need the calcium, and honestly, there isn't quite enough calcium even in the layer feed over the long haul.

People make lots of recommendations for making up that slight calcium deficiency. Some feed milk or dairy products, but it can cause a little diarrhea if done often. Greens like kale (but not spinach) are high in available calcium and make good supplements, too. Early on, new layers' eggs are generally small and pretty sturdy, but they will thin out and start to break if they can't get enough calcium.

Also be sure you have some ground oyster shell calcium available in a dish or small bin at all times for the rest of their lives. Most girls will use it as they need it. Roosters ignore it.

Hope this helps, and congratulations on your new layers!

 

[Chris09]

For the most part the biggest difference between the two would be that the developer has less Protein.
There is also a difference in Calcium and sometimes Phosphorous, Vitamin D, Energy and Salt.

If you don't want to go to a Layer type feed do to having non-laying fowl you could just feed a non-medicated starter or a starter/grower and supplement the Calcium with oyster shells. To be honest you should have oyster out for them even if there on a layer.

(non-laying fowl would be rooster/s, chicks, growing stock, or non-laying hens)