Feed Question - when to move to laying crumbles?

[operator16]

Our birds are 12, 14, and 20 weeks. The 20 week old ones are some tiny WCB Polish birds. I have them all on Purina's Start and Grow. When should I move up to the laying feed. Our feed store says now is the time. However, everything I've read says not until they begin to lay.

How do I feed these different ages and give them what they need nutritionally? They get all kinds of other food - my garden is huge and they've taken over, they steal bird food from the feeders, meal worm treats, vegie scraps from the kitchen, scrambled eggs once in a while, etc....

Thanks!

 

[NevadaRon]

Switch to Flock Raiser, then provide some ground oyster shell in a separate feeder. The one's who neecd the calcium for laying will get it from the oyster shell.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
That's what I do with my mixed age/species flock except I use gamebird feed because it's easier to come by here. As long as you put oyster shell out for the layers it works great. I've never had the youngsters or roos either for that matter take more then a " what the heck is this stuff" taste of the oyster shell so no worries about them getting too much calcium by leaving it out free choice. The ones that need it will eat it and the others don't.