Feeding dilemma

[WickeeChickee]

I'm just about to the bottom of the ginormous bag of chick starter feed we've been using since our chicks were babies. Now, my B.O. pullets are 12 weeks old, is it too soon to start layer feed, or should I buy a small bag of starter to last just a few more weeks? Also, I can't believe this never occurred to me before now, but what in the heck should I feed my two silkie roos when the girls switch to layer feed?? The roos are 10 weeks old, live with the B.O. girls and share the feeder with them. I have no idea how I will separate their feeders since I'm assuming roos can't eat layer feed. Sigh, I can't believe I didn't think of this before....

 

[nbenevento]

Personally, I would buy another small bag of starter / grower. They are not ready for the extra nutrients or calcium of the layer feed. As far as the rooster goes, it can eat the layer feed with no problem.

 

[keesmom]

You could also get something like Purina's Flock Raiser or Nutrena's All Flock. That's what I feed mine, from babies up to adults. If you go that route make sure hens have access to oyster shell.

Back when I fed layer the roosters ate it too. It never seemed to hurt them. One lived to be 9.

 

[WickeeChickee]

Yay! I'm sooo glad roosters can eat layer feed! I was seriously stressing about that lol! Thanks for the input!
So, I can give them flock raiser and add oyster shell once they are POL? Do I need to provide oyster shell if I give them Layer feed?

 

[Demosthine]

Definitely get the equivalent to Nutrena's All Flock or just stick with the sStart & Grow. The extra calcium will cause liver damage in the non-layers and ultimately heart failure. I don't know about feeding layer to roosters, but it's food for thought.

As mentioned, make sure calcium supplements are available for your layers when they start. You can use crushed egg shell, crushed oyster or crushed limestone. The recommendation of the old timers is in that order. Egg shells are the cheapest (free) and seemingly most efficient, while limestone is the least effective.

 

[WickeeChickee]

Thank y'all so much! I will take your advice!

 

[Demosthine]

Yay! I'm sooo glad roosters can eat layer feed! I was seriously stressing about that lol! Thanks for the input!
So, I can give them flock raiser and add oyster shell once they are POL? Do I need to provide oyster shell if I give them Layer feed?

I would start making the calcium supplement available early. They know what their body needs and will eat accordingly. As they approach the point of laying, they should starting eating the extra calcium and theoretically, you'll never end up with the soft or no-shell eggs that many complain about from their new layers. You should also provide the supplements even if you are giving them layer feed. Although they may not need it, some might still. Not all feed is created equal and not all hens need the same levels of calcium. Providing the extra choice will ensure you have the best egg shells possible. It may take you a year or two to go through a fifty pound bag of oyster shell (or egg shell since it's free!), but it's far more stressful and time consuming to figure out why you have soft egg shells.

 

[moetrout]

I had a similar dilema when I first got chickens. I had also bought a turkey poult. What I used and still use to this day is flock raiser and then I separately always keep a bowl of crushed oyster shell. Your 12 week old chickens can be given flock raiser. This way the rooster does not get the calcium and the chicks should not really touch the oyster shell until they need it(when they start laying). Chickens are very good at knowing what they need.