You are good now. I didn't realize your birds were nearly 5 months old. Really you can offer it any time if it is in a separate container since birds that don't need it will usually avoid it. Pullets reach sexual maturity at different rates, especially now we're after summer solstice. Their bodies will usually tell them when they need to start shoring up calcium for the impending need.
They are very docile on the roost at dusk if you move slowly. As wild as my birds are, most of them will tolerate my handling after a long day of foraging. If I try to grab them off the roost before dawn, it is a completely different story. Then they scream bloody murder.
Mine started to lay at 18 weeks. I provided oyster shells at about 14 weeks and they didn't seem to bother with it until they needed it and I was still feeding them start and grow. They are 21 weeks now and all are laying small eggs but I have gotten two normal size eggs recently. Still feeding them start and grow with oyster shells on the side until I run out. I have barred rocks, Orpingtons, Wyandottes and 1 Maran.
I am surprised anyone laid this morning since yesterday one of the barred rocks was attacked by a hawk. Only feathers were missing. My neighbor scared the hawk away before it hurt her. She was in the nest box this morning.
You may start having a dearth of eggs starting tomorrow. Today's eggs likely were already in the pipeline at the time of the attack. It takes about 24 hours after ovulation for the egg to be laid.
I know this is 3 years past but I was wondering, as well, since I‘m a newbie and my Cuckoo Marans is squatting a lot at 16 weeks. There‘s a product that does double duty of grit and calcium sold on Azure Standard so I have a feeder that holds grit and I put some of that on one side for her. I will also offer oyster shell as it gets closer.
What exact product, can you post a link?
Certainly!
