First eggs and hens are only 16 weeks

Kgaff

In the Brooder
May 9, 2020
21
1
31
Hello all!

New chicken mama here. My hens are approximately 16 -17 weeks and two have already started laying eggs. I opened up their nesting boxes and have put some gold balls in there to encourage them to lay eggs in the boxes. My question is on their feed. Currently they are on pullet feed and I am not sure if I should wait a couple more weeks for layer feed or start them all on layer feed now. Any help is appreciated!
 
The early bloomers will need calcium to replace that which is being lost in the medullary bone as they build shells.
Not doing so would cause rickets and other health issues if you wait till all lay which no one knows when that will be.
How many non-layers do you have?
I would take two tactics. Either provide oyster shell in a separate container or perhaps, depending on how many non-layers there are. mix some layer feed 50:50 with the grower feed.
 
Immediately offer Oyster Shells, limestone, or marble chips, 'depending on what's available where you live' in a separate container. 20181214_095753.jpg .
If all are the same breed/type you can switch to a Layer feed. If different breeds I would wait till one of each breed has laid before switching to just layer.
Mix the grower feed with the layer till used up. GC
 
The early bloomers will need calcium to replace that which is being lost in the medullary bone as they build shells.
Not doing so would cause rickets and other health issues if you wait till all lay which no one knows when that will be.
How many non-layers do you have?
I would take two tactics. Either provide oyster shell in a separate container or perhaps, depending on how many non-layers there are. mix some layer feed 50:50 with the grower feed.

I have 7 hens, 5 different breeds and 1 rooster. I am not sure which one laid one of the eggs. So I have 5 non-layers as of right now. Mixing it 50/50 would be the easiest of course but wanted to know if that is best!
 
I have 7 hens, 5 different breeds and 1 rooster. I am not sure which one laid one of the eggs. So I have 5 non-layers as of right now.
 
I have 7 hens, 5 different breeds and 1 rooster. I am not sure which one laid one of the eggs. So I have 5 non-layers as of right now.
Yeah, I wouldn't switch to just a Layer feed if you want fertile eggs for hatching.
I recently read an article that feeding layer feed 4% Calcium' to a Cockerel/Rooster can reduce fertilization.
You could mix the feeds 50/50.
I would also offer a separate container of calcium.

Here I offer Oyster Shells separately and feed a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower 18% to my Hens year round. GC
 
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