Five Girls Laying...Five Haven't Started Yet...Help with Feed?

[analyticalblonde]

Hi All,

Since I can't determine which of my five girls have started laying and which aren't, I am concerned that I have started ALL the girls on Layer feed but read that I could be hurting the girls who haven't started laying. I read in an article that only layers should get layer because the extra calcium can cause kidney damage in non-layers.

I'm also thinking about going only FF moving forward because of its nutritional values.

What, if anything, should I do if this is really the case?

 

[Naser]

If they are at the point of lay you will be fine

 

[PirateGirl]

Either continue to feed a grower feed to everyone with oyster shell on the side until everyone is laying, and then switch to layer feed OR feed an all flock feed to everyone with oyster shell on the side and no need to switch to layer ever really.

 

[analyticalblonde]

So that I don't waste the brand new 25 lb bag of layer feed (I've used about 5 lbs of it already), can I use this up first then switch to All Flock feed? Also, after switching, do I just keep them on All Flock from here on out?

I have free choice grit and oyster shell out for them already. I have 10 girls - all standards, no bantams so they go through a good amount of feed each day.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How old are they? If they're old enough that half the flock is laying, I might consider just having them all on layer since they're obviously pretty close to it.

 

[Naser]

So that I don't waste the brand new 25 lb bag of layer feed (I've used about 5 lbs of it already)

Don't waste it, I used Layer feed or starter crumbs for mixed flock for many months and I didn't notice any difference, If it is going to cause problems it will take long time.

 

[Gray Farms]

They could all be laying, just every other day. Not all hens lay every day.

 

[PirateGirl]

No need to waste feed! Feed them what you have.

 

[analyticalblonde]

How old are they? If they're old enough that half the flock is laying, I might consider just having them all on layer since they're obviously pretty close to it.

Hi @rosemarythyme

My girls are 5 1/2 months old...

 

[rosemarythyme]

My girls are 5 1/2 months old...

Should be fine. If you had a mixed flock or if they were much younger, I'd be hesitant to put them all on layer, but no reason to waste it.

If in the future you decide to just go with all flock all year round, that's an option too. I actually do a 50/50 split with grower and layer since I seem to like to complicate things...