Grower + limestone for laying hens?

[NBarnes]

I've read that you can feed both laying hens and growing chicks grower feed, while providing the hens' need for calcium with oyster shell or limestone? The adults will get the calcium they don't need and won't be hurt by the grower feed, and the young'uns will get the protein they need from the grower while naturally ignoring the calcium. Or so I've read. Yes? No? Maybe? We're considering integrating four ~two month old chicks into our laying flock.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Yes - as long as you provide sufficient supplemental calcium for actively laying birds this is a very practical (and common) feed program to use in mixed flock situations. It is my feed program of choice, even when I have all laying age/currently laying birds in my flock.