Did I feed Layer feed to early?

[QueenMisha]

I've been researched mg this same question. Is see opposing answers. Seems to be disagreeing advise on this. My peeps are 19 weeks. 5 pullets. No one has layed yet. My hubby brought home a 50lb bag of layer inadvertently. Got it from out of town so it's not convenient to exchange. I was hoping to maybe mix it with a grower so it can be used and not expire. But, some say don't use to all of laying some say can feed now, some say start at first egg. I'm confused

I work at a poultry specialty store, where we sell feed and birds. I've had 10+ years experience, and the owner has had 35+ years. We give out this information pretty much daily. The correct age for a layer is 16-18 weeks. This is partly because some may begin laying at this age and require calcium immediately (16 is the earliest a pullet will lay) and because the others will need to start building up some calcium in order to produce first eggs of good quality.

For reference, mixing with grower is fine. Some people start birds on a mixture of 50/50 grower-layer as early as 14 weeks, when they begin mixing their laying hens and young pullets.

 

[vweers]

I work at a poultry specialty store, where we sell feed and birds. I've had 10+ years experience, and the owner has had 35+ years. We give out this information pretty much daily. The correct age for a layer is 16-18 weeks. This is partly because some may begin laying at this age and require calcium immediately (16 is the earliest a pullet will lay) and because the others will need to start building up some calcium in order to produce first eggs of good quality.

For reference, mixing with grower is fine. Some people start birds on a mixture of 50/50 grower-layer as early as 14 weeks, when they begin mixing their laying hens and young pullets.

Thanks for your input. I will probably be buying feed soon so I will get layers and mix.

 

[chynasparks]

Thank you for this great information. The Nutrena feed bag reads to feed at 16 weeks. None are laying yet as I mentioned but they are 19 weeks old. I can wait another week, perhaps I will. I love this forum but there are so many different opinions on the how too's of raising these peeps. I've learned a lot from the BYC, no offense intended. It's just difficult to pick through and find the right information for my situation. Thanks again

 

[QueenMisha]

Thank you for this great information. The Nutrena feed bag reads to feed at 16 weeks. None are laying yet as I mentioned but they are 19 weeks old. I can wait another week, perhaps I will. I love this forum but there are so many different opinions on the how too's of raising these peeps. I've learned a lot from the BYC, no offense intended. It's just difficult to pick through and find the right information for my situation. Thanks again

Yeah there's a lot of conflicting information on the web. Books tend to be more reliable in terms of method, but even then there will be splits in opinion.

As for my own suggestions, while I will say that my suggestions certainly are not the only way, they are the way I have found to be the most successful, based on first-hand experience as well as feedback from the customers at my workplace.