Feeding Chickens when only one hen laying

[Missyschix13]

Hi all! New here to both the forum and chickens! My girls are getting closer to laying (12 weeks) and I'm starting to plan their change to layer feed (at around 18 weeks). My question is, having different breeds, they are going to start laying at different times. If one of my girls starts laying at 16 weeks, do I switch the whole flock to layer feed at that time? I have four hens (1 golden comet, 2 cinnamon queens, and 1 sapphire gem)and 1 rooster (a happy mistake black Australorp!). Thank goodness I'm somewhat rural and my neighbors are cool (they have chickens too) Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Shadrach]

Hello Missyschix13.
Welcome to BYC.

One simple solution to try out is feed the whole group an All Flock type feed and leave a bowl of calcium supplement out all the time. Many report good results with this method and if later when all your hens are laying and you find the shells get thin you can switch to a layers feed.

 

[Missyschix13]

Hello Missyschix13.
Welcome to BYC.

One simple solution to try out is feed the whole group an All Flock type feed and leave a bowl of calcium supplement out all the time. Many report good results with this method and if later when all your hens are laying and you find the shells get thin you can switch to a layers feed.

Thanks! I have been reading about that method and it was definitely one of my considerations. It's probably my best option!

 

[affacat]

We just switch the whole flock whenever the current bag runs out. I don't think you need to have it down to the chicken unless you're running an experiment or optimized factory or something.

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

Hens can eat chick starter, they just need supplemental calcium. This is a similar approach to the poster above who said All Flock + calcium.

 

[Missyschix13]

We just switch the whole flock whenever the current bag runs out. I don't think you need to have it down to the chicken unless you're running an experiment or optimized factory or something.

Thanks! Definitely not running any kind of experiment or factory situation lol. Just looking to keep my girls happy, healthy, and laying.

 

[Brooks_]

Hi all! New here to both the forum and chickens! My girls are getting closer to laying (12 weeks) and I'm starting to plan their change to layer feed (at around 18 weeks). My question is, having different breeds, they are going to start laying at different times. If one of my girls starts laying at 16 weeks, do I switch the whole flock to layer feed at that time? I have four hens (1 golden comet, 2 cinnamon queens, and 1 sapphire gem)and 1 rooster (a happy mistake black Australorp!). Thank goodness I'm somewhat rural and my neighbors are cool (they have chickens too) Thanks in advance for any help!

Seeing as how you have a rooster, I would recommend against layer feed at all. It will have too much calcium for the rooster and long term health. I would recommend all flock/flock raiser or starter/grower for all with oyster shell on the side for the ones that need the calcium.

 

[affacat]

Seeing as how you have a rooster, I would recommend against layer feed at all. It will have too much calcium for the rooster and long term health. I would recommend all flock/flock raiser or starter/grower for all with oyster shell on the side for the ones that need the calcium.

As another suggestion, since we have roosters we also use all flock... But instead of oyster we bake our used egg shells, blend them down to tiny pieces (not powder) and the chickens eat them to get their calcium.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I dont know why people feed layer there is nothing in it that makes them lay and there is not enough calcium in it to help either mine get high protien called gobblers grub it was 22% but not they dropped it to 21% also helps with molting

 

[Missyschix13]

Seeing as how you have a rooster, I would recommend against layer feed at all. It will have too much calcium for the rooster and long term health. I would recommend all flock/flock raiser or starter/grower for all with oyster shell on the side for the ones that need the calcium.

I was wondering about him too. Thanks this makes sense!