First Timer Do they need to be on layer food to lay?

[GApeachmama]

My lovely ladies were hatched on May 6 or 7th. Nubia is the Australorp. Viola is the EE. They both have fairly red combs. Nubia squats when we touch her back. Good luck touching Viola. Anyway, I have the calcium out but they’re still on Scratch and Peck grower feed because they’re not quite 20 weeks. They won’t be until October more than likely because I have a split flock. My brother in law has 300 chickens. He says that they won’t lay until they’re on layer feed. Is that true? Also what signs should I look for? I recently saw a thread that mentioned laying down most of the day.

Pictures attached. Those are from a week ago or so. Viola is can be an a hole so I don’t have updated photos for her.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Absolutely not. I have 7 laying right now that have never in their life seen layer feed. Your girls are just not quite there, which is actually really common in many breeds. I would venture to say most of mine start around 22-24 weeks. But slower maturing birds can take much much longer to start laying.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

My lovely ladies were hatched on May 6 or 7th. Nubia is the Australorp. Viola is the EE. They both have fairly red combs. Nubia squats when we touch her back. Good luck touching Viola. Anyway, I have the calcium out but they’re still on Scratch and Peck grower feed because they’re not quite 20 weeks. They won’t be until October more than likely because I have a split flock. My brother in law has 300 chickens. He says that they won’t lay until they’re on layer feed. Is that true? Also what signs should I look for? I recently saw a thread that mentioned laying down most of the day.

Pictures attached. Those are from a week ago or so. Viola is can be an a hole so I don’t have updated photos for her.

The only effect that (specifically) layer feed has is that it helps shell production, especially once they really get going and have drawn down their calcium reserves.

But once their brain says it’s time, the eggs start coming.

At four months, they’re still pretty young, at least a month out would be my guess. You can start offering oyster shell (flaked or chunks), and if their instincts say that they need it, they’ll start laying.

Must of us have found that higher protein feed (chick starter, flock feed) + separate oyster shell supply >>> layer feed. Layer feed was created for production laying operations, like your brother’s. It’s designed with the expectation that hens will lay daily for a year - year and a half, slow down, and then get culled.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

My chickens stay on starter/grower or all-flock with oyster shell on the side and lay eggs just fine. Lots of people on BYC do the same.

 

[tlcmurphy]

No, mine are on All Flock withe oyster shell on the side, if you have birds that don’t lay (roosters, young pullets, old hens) the extra calcium in layer feed is harmful to them over time.

Where are you located? I’m in Atlanta

 

[GApeachmama]

No, mine are on All Flock withe oyster shell on the side, if you have birds that don’t lay (roosters, young pullets, old hens) the extra calcium in layer feed is harmful to them over time.

Where are you located? I’m in Atlanta

Midwest. Thanks

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

My lovely ladies were hatched on May 6 or 7th. Nubia is the Australorp. Viola is the EE. They both have fairly red combs. Nubia squats when we touch her back. Good luck touching Viola. Anyway, I have the calcium out but they’re still on Scratch and Peck grower feed because they’re not quite 20 weeks. They won’t be until October more than likely because I have a split flock. My brother in law has 300 chickens. He says that they won’t lay until they’re on layer feed. Is that true? Also what signs should I look for? I recently saw a thread that mentioned laying down most of the day.

Pictures attached. Those are from a week ago or so. Viola is can be an a hole so I don’t have updated photos for her.

Mine that were hatched april 1st have been starting to lay, with the earliest one being a week and a half earlier from today. This was early for them as my oldest flock members are all barred rock which is expected to lay later. I was expecting them to lay a week from now! If you provide calcium on the side they'll eat as needed. Chickens are not lactose tolerant so lightly baked egg shells or bought flaked oyster shells are a good choice. A good indicator for becoming closer to laying is if you hover your hand over their back they go in to a deep squat. Mine started laying 2.5-3 weeks from when they started squatting.

It depends on what kind of chickens, but rule of thumb is five to six months. Four months are only for specific breeds like RIRs and Leghorns.

 

[GApeachmama]

Mine that were hatched april 1st have been starting to lay, with the earliest one being a week and a half earlier from today. This was early for them as my oldest flock members are all barred rock which is expected to lay later. I was expecting them to lay a week from now! If you provide calcium on the side they'll eat as needed. Chickens are not lactose tolerant so lightly baked egg shells or bought flaked oyster shells are a good choice. A good indicator for becoming closer to laying is if you hover your hand over their back they go in to a deep squat. Mine started laying 2.5-3 weeks from when they started squatting.

It depends on what kind of chickens, but rule of thumb is five to six months. Four months are only for specific breeds like RIRs and Leghorns.

I know I’m checking in a bit early. I’m overeager. I’m just so excited to watch them grow. The things I read about Australorp said they may lay start as early as 18 weeks. They’ll be 18 weeks next week. I’ll try to relax. But don’t be surprised if you see a similar post in about 3 weeks if Nubia isn’t laying.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

To add on, my chickens are laying small pullet eggs right now. Tasty and perfect, just tiny, bigger than a quail egg for sure though! It takes another month for some to start laying full-sized eggs.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

I know I’m checking in a bit early. I’m overeager. I’m just so excited to watch them grow. The things I read about Australorp said they may lay start as early as 18 weeks. They’ll be 18 weeks next week. I’ll try to relax. But don’t be surprised if you see a similar post in about 3 weeks if Nubia isn’t laying.

AI got my father here too, it's not actually that early He was telling me they'd lay any day now when it was a few weeks before any started doing what I call the "potty dance." Due to my set up, I had to move them to the laying box. Australorps have similar laying periods to my birds, and should be laying around 22-24 weeks. It could be as early as 18 weeks, but I highly doubt it! Again, one of my girls was super early and laid on 20 weeks. Also, some eggs might not be edible. The first egg out of my current problem (screamer) child was shell-less/soft-shelled and popped in the bedding.