First egg and layer feed

[taylacline]

We just got our first egg today, I'm not sure which hen laid though. I don't know how to tell. But the egg has spots almost looks like paint spots on it. What is it? Also she's the first of the 6 to start laying and they are all different breeds, when should we switch to layer feed? After they are all laying or go ahead and switch now?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Speckled eggs are normal and cool. What breed is the girl that layed the egg in the pic?? how old are all 6 ? Sounds like if they're the same age you can switch everyone to layer.

 

[NatJ]

she's the first of the 6 to start laying and they are all different breeds, when should we switch to layer feed? After they are all laying or go ahead and switch now?

Layer feed has more calcium than other chicken feeds, but not more of anything else.

For now, I would just provide extra calcium, such as a dish of oyster shell. They will all take a few bites and throw some around as they decide what this stuff is and whether they like it, but after that each one should eat the right amount. Chickens are pretty good at eating the right amount of calcium when it is provided in a separate dish, so that works really well when you have some laying and some not.

When your current bag of feed runs out, you can get layer feed if you want. It is also fine to feed chick starter or grower or all-flock feed for their entire lives, as long as you also provide a separate dish of calcium (oyster shell).

Oyster shell is a common source of calcium for chickens. It is fine to give them eggshells as well, but people don't usually have enough eggshells to provide all the calcium their chickens need (each hen needs to eat about 2 eggshells for every 1 egg she lays.)

 

[taylacline]

Speckled eggs are normal and cool. What breed is the girl that layed the egg in the pic?? how old are all 6 ? Sounds like if they're the same age you can switch everyone to layer.

I'm not sure which one laid, I have two wyandottes, a sapphire gem, and an australorp that could have. I also have a prairie bluebell and an olive egger but considering its brown I don't think its either of them. They are all roughly 20 weeks

 

[taylacline]

Layer feed has more calcium than other chicken feeds, but not more of anything else.

For now, I would just provide extra calcium, such as a dish of oyster shell. They will all take a few bites and throw some around as they decide what this stuff is and whether they like it, but after that each one should eat the right amount. Chickens are pretty good at eating the right amount of calcium when it is provided in a separate dish, so that works really well when you have some laying and some not.

When your current bag of feed runs out, you can get layer feed if you want. It is also fine to feed chick starter or grower or all-flock feed for their entire lives, as long as you also provide a separate dish of calcium (oyster shell).

Oyster shell is a common source of calcium for chickens. It is fine to give them eggshells as well, but people don't usually have enough eggshells to provide all the calcium their chickens need (each hen needs to eat about 2 eggshells for every 1 egg she lays.)

If I were to switch to a layer feed before they are all laying, we are about out of grower feed, would the extra calcium cause any kind of build up or problems in the birds not yet laying? Or would it just be safest to go the oyster shell route until everyone is since they can pick out how much they need?

 

[TooCheep]

If I were to switch to a layer feed before they are all laying, we are about out of grower feed, would the extra calcium cause any kind of build up or problems in the birds not yet laying? Or would it just be safest to go the oyster shell route until everyone is since they can pick out how much they need?

Yes, exactly.

 

[NatJ]

If I were to switch to a layer feed before they are all laying, we are about out of grower feed, would the extra calcium cause any kind of build up or problems in the birds not yet laying? Or would it just be safest to go the oyster shell route until everyone is since they can pick out how much they need?

Extra calcium can cause problems, but that is most common in very young chicks, and sometimes in roosters who eat it for years. For pullets that are getting close to laying, it shouldn't be a big deal.

I might lean slightly toward grower for now, but I think it could be reasonable to go either way, especially if one feed is much cheaper than the other.

 

[Mrs. K]

It really will make very little difference. You can go that route of the oyster shell on the side, or you can go with layer feed. It is really about 6 on one hand, half a dozen on the other.

No matter what you do, you are apt to get some less than perfect eggs. That too is normal. The laying is just starting up, and there often are a few glitches. People often get soft shells and get all worried as if this is a bad sign, when it really isn't. Others will recommend more calcium, but truthfully if you do nothing, the soft shells will go away in about the same amount of time as if you feed a 'perfect' diet.

Most commercial feed, is pretty well put together, and chickens have survived on much worse. If you start layer feed this week verses next week or in 3 weeks or never... more than likely it will not effect your birds lifespan or quality of life or the eggs they produce. Those things are MUCH MORE influenced by genetics and breeds, than feed.

Mrs K

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I'm not sure which one laid, I have two wyandottes, a sapphire gem, and an australorp that could have. I also have a prairie bluebell and an olive egger but considering its brown I don't think its either of them. They are all roughly 20 weeks

I'm betting Wyandotte. The pigment will change as first eggs can be inconsistent looking at first. I'm sure you're going to get pretty eggs from all! I see people wanting those kind of speckled eggs all the time. I would switch to layer now or just provide a bowl of oyster shells as recommended or both.... ENJOY

 

[Linnre]

I had my first egg from my Ameraucana on Wednesday. It was small and a greenish grayish blueish color. Then another egg today that is also small but is more blue and no green or gray. The eggs are also different shapes. Could these be from the same bird? I also have a cream Legbar that will lay blue but she hasn’t shown signs yet (squatting). I’ll add a picture but it’s hard to see the colors right. They are also different shapes. Both are 5 months old this week.