Grower Feed mixed with layer?

[spangles403]

I switched to Scratch and Peck and my 4 girls eat half as much as they did of the generic brand stuff I was using before. I bought two bags of grower thinking it would get me through to when they would need layer, but now they are almost 15 weeks old and I'm just opening bag 2!! Bag 1 lasted 7 weeks, wow! Should I just go through bag 2 with free choice bowl of oyster shell or should I get a bag of layer and mix it with the grower once they start laying? I certainly don't want to waste the expensive feed!!

 

[Percheron chick]

Just put the oyster shell on the side. You can keep they on the grower if you like it better than the layer.

 

[evemfoster]

The only major difference between grower and layer is the level of calcium in the feed. Well there is a tiny difference in protein but i wouldn’t worry about it.

As Percheron Chick said add oyster shell on the side and they will be fine. They will pick out what they need when they start needing it.

Sometimes when you change feed especially if it's a different brand the chickens will go off their feed for a while. If they are laying at the time the eggs could stop for a couple weeks. You can prevent this by slowly blending the feeds.

When you do finally need to buy layer you will want to start mixing the feeds 10% per feeding or filling the feeder. Raising the amount of new feed in the mix another 10% each time the feeder is filled. Keep this up until the old food is gone and they are on 100% new feed.

If you have a large feeder you can conciderably shorten the linth of time and the amount of feed handled by mixing up smaller batches and layering them in a feeder. 10% new feed on the bottom and 100% on the top.

 

[spangles403]

Thanks for the help! I'll run the grower for a couple of weeks with a bowl of oyster shells, then start mixing to adjust them to the layer!

 

[evemfoster]

Thanks for the help! I'll run the grower for a couple of weeks with a bowl of oyster shells, then start mixing to adjust them to the layer!

It is a good idea to offer oyster shell or finely crushed egg shells at all times.

Some chickens need more calcium than is supplied in the layer mix. They simply make eggs with thicker shells or are eating more forage and not as much layer feed. So not getting enough calcium in their diet. Eating forage is just fine for them they just need the oyster shell supplement to make strong shells.

 

[653001]

When should you start offering oyster shells ? Mine are around 14-15 weeks