Grower vs layer

[Jasonj472]

Ok need help with this. I have white leghorns that were hatched around May 2022. Thry have not started laying yet. Im thinking by thr time they matured, winter came, short days, etc.
I've already switched them to layer because of their age. Is this ok?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Rhey don't need that wxllextra calcium while not laying. It won't hurt them though

 

[nuthatched]

You can feed either, most people here don't feed normal 16% layer, high protein layer is good for high production breeds.

 

[K0k0shka]

They don't need all the extra calcium if they aren't using it for egg production. Excess calcium builds up and can hurt them in the long run. Depends on what your plans are for them - if you want to maximize health and life expectancy, don't feed them layer feed when they aren't laying. But if you just want them for eggs and will be retiring them in a couple of years anyway, then it doesn't matter. I personally don't use layer feed because it's too much of a hassle to change feeds when the chickens lay or don't lay (mine stop completely in winter), when I have young chicks or males, etc. So I use flock raiser for everybody, with calcium on the side (crushed eggshell). Nice and easy, and everybody is healthy and happy.

 

[brandonstokley]

I use all flock or flock raiser with oyster shell on the side.

with my last batch of chickens I was using layer. I noticed that when I started giving scratch and free ranging as they matured I was getting feather picking and eating. because the layer is only like 16% with added scratch and foraging they were getting way less than that. when I put them on a 20% all flock this behavior stopped.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x ^^ I stopped "stage" feeding years ago ... Switched to Flock Raiser (20%) from the start when when they start laying then I add an extra dish for their Oyster Shells (100%). Never had an issue, shells are strong too. This way saves me storage space.
Reason to NOT feed Layer to chicks & Roos is the extra calcium may/can cause damage to their liver/kidneys (forget which or maybe both).

 

[Rainbowdahling]

They don't need all the extra calcium if they aren't using it for egg production. Excess calcium builds up and can hurt them in the long run. Depends on what your plans are for them - if you want to maximize health and life expectancy, don't feed them layer feed when they aren't laying. But if you just want them for eggs and will be retiring them in a couple of years anyway, then it doesn't matter. I personally don't use layer feed because it's too much of a hassle to change feeds when the chickens lay or don't lay (mine stop completely in winter), when I have young chicks or males, etc. So I use flock raiser for everybody, with calcium on the side (crushed eggshell). Nice and easy, and everybody is healthy and happy.

What brand oyster shell do you use?

 

[K0k0shka]

What brand oyster shell do you use?

I don't use oyster shell, I use eggshells. I feed their own eggshells back to them. In the winter when they stop laying and I have to buy eggs, I dry and save the shells to replenish my stash. The chickens always have a full bowl of shells available, to use as they need (they are very good at knowing how much they need and regulating themselves, so I like to leave it up to them and eliminate the guesswork).

 

[Rainbowdahling]

I don't use oyster shell, I use eggshells. I feed their own eggshells back to them. In the winter when they stop laying and I have to buy eggs, I dry and save the shells to replenish my stash. The chickens always have a full bowl of shells available, to use as they need (they are very good at knowing how much they need and regulating themselves, so I like to leave it up to them and eliminate the guesswork).

I'm sorry my eyes just skipped straight over "egg" and assumed oyster . That is such a thrifty nifty idea, I'll have to try that. Mine just started laying so I haven't tried any sort of supplements left. I'm still learning. So when you say you dry them, what do you mean by that?

 

[K0k0shka]

I'm sorry my eyes just skipped straight over "egg" and assumed oyster . That is such a thrifty nifty idea, I'll have to try that. Mine just started laying so I haven't tried any sort of supplements left. I'm still learning. So when you say you dry them, what do you mean by that?

That's the old school way, and it's free! I grew up on a farm and there was no oyster shell back in the day Different people have different methods for drying. The point is for the shells to be bone dry for storage, or else the egg remains will go bad and stink. Some people air dry them. I find that to be too slow and impractical. You need a lot of surface area to spread them out, for good drying. I also don't like the threat of salmonella (dry or not, they'd still be raw). So what I do is I collect them in a pie pan on the kitchen counter, and when the pan fills up, and I have recently baked something in the oven, I put the pan with the shells in the oven after I've turned the heat off. The residual heat bakes them and dries them up. They even turn a nice golden brown delicious So in a matter of minutes, they are both completely dry and ready for storage, and safe for you to handle. I store them in a large half gallon glass jar, and use that to refill the chickens' bowl.