Feeding a flock of varied aged chickens

[BreezyBre]

So I have flock of mixed ages hens a couple should beaying any day now ( fingers crossed ) and in a few weeks a few more ladies should be pooping the nuggets too .
Being new to this I thought I factored in everything but I missed thinking about feeding . Right now everyone is on grower but once some of them start laying can I switch everyone to layer feed or do I need to separate my layers to feed properly ??

 

[BreezyBre]

I researed everything getting into chickens and age didn't even occur to me . Of course as they were growing everyone was separated according to size but now I'm stumped lol

 

[CannedMonster]

Nope.
You can continue to feed them all grower and just offer the laying hens oyster shell for extra calcium.
Offer it free choice in a separate container.
Don’t worry if the younger ones sample it, it won’t hurt them.
My girls seem to prefer eating some before going in to roost for the night.
We keep some along with grit in the coop.

 

[cavemanrich]

You can finish the grower feed and then switch to layer. Offer cracked oyster shells free choice always. (even when all are laying, and on layer feed.) Not expensive, and a bag lasts a looooong time.
I feed my hens Alflock, which is comparable in calcium to what you have. (grower) . About 2% calcium. I provide oyster shells always so the chickens that are laying, can supplement their calcium needs. Some of my hens do not lay for different reasons. (age, molting, or just on strike) The 2% calcium in their feed is why I choose it. Layer feed at 4% calcium is ideal for laying hens. It is not good for non layers and roosters because it can harm their kidneys and liver. Referring to processed calcium in their feed. Free choice oyster shell will do no harm and chickens just will not overdose on them.
If your chickens start to lay and a few are about to, there will not be any danger to them to be ALL eating layer. The higher calcium consumption by non layers to be harmful is when it is ongoing and for extended time.
WISHING YOU BEST....................... and

 

[aart]

I like to feed a flock raiser/starter/grower/finisher type feed with 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer daily. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.
Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container. I also regularly offer digestive granite grit in the appropriate size, throw it out on the ground with the scratch. http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

Animal protein (a freshly trapped mouse, a bit of canned mackerel, mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided once in while and during molting and/or if I see any feather eating.

 

[lazy gardener]

I am almost alone in my camp: Whole flock goes on unmedicated starter when I have chicks. When the chicks loose their peep and get their cluck (voice change indicating they are entering puberty) I finish out their starter and make the switch to layer. I ferment all the feed for my birds. I do agree that it's a good idea to keep oyster shell available no matter what feed your layers are eating.

 

[BreezyBre]

Thank you everyone for the good info

 

[GC-Raptor]

I would wait till your youngest chicks are squatting and their combs are red and swollen, before you switch to a Layers feed. (Offer Oyster Shells in a separate container).
I mixed the Layer Pellets and Start and Grow feed 50/50 for 2 weeks and then I just added Layers Feed to the feeder, after 2 weeks.
I also mixed the Pellets with scratch grains (to get them used to the Pellets) and scattered on the ground. (Not necessarily if you are switching to Layer Crumbles).
I switched to a Non-Medicated 18% Start and Grow feed from a 18% Layers feed, because I only have 3 hens, (lost 2 earlier this year), and a 40# bag of feed went bad before it was finished.
I can get a fresh 25# bag of Non-Medicated Start and Grow that will be used up before it goes bad.
I am a fan of this feed. I have been feeding it since Memorial day with Oyster Shells in a separate container. The egg shells are strong and my three 2 year olds love it. GC