Help! Been feeding 'grower/finisher' feed to my soon to be laying hens

[clacasse88]

Any feedback as to the repercussions of feeding my 18 weeks RIR and RIW hens for the past few weeks. Wasn't paying attention to getting just the "grower" food. Is this a big deal?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[Wifezilla]

Relax. If you give them free-choice oyster shells they will be fine.

 

[JMPE]

Not a big deal. Is it a medicated feed? I made that mistake and ditched my first few eggs because of it (totally spaced it). If it unmedicated, I would finish what you have and then switch over to layer. If you are worried about calcium, you can start to offer oyster shell. Your hens will be fine.

 

[ranchhand]

No big deal, they'll be fine. I usually start mixing in layer feed at about 18 weeks, the transition takes a week or so. And even though most layer feed has calcium, I provide oyster shell in a separate feeder, free choice.

 

[chickenlady08]

I have some chickens of different ages, some are over 2 years old, some are about 3 and some are almost a year in March. I gave them all layer/breeder once the babies were old enough, but with 36 hens I was getting 2 dozen+ eggs a DAY. well to me that is alot of eggs and can't seem to give them away to people, anyways in the fall of last year I started giving all of mine the grower/finisher full time. I researched it and talked to my local livestock store where I get my food and they have raised chickens for years and years. The food is fine for them, I just don't want to force them to lay so so many eggs all the time. Everybody needs a break and so do my girls, they make me happy so I want them to be happy in return.

 

[saladin]

If your young ones have access to the ground (as in dirt) there is generally no need for oyster shells. Chickens eat plenty of dirt! saladin

 

[CoopCrazy]

No big deal .. I have fed nonmedic. chick starter to my adults before in a pinch.. Didnt seem to hurt thrm any...

 

[Bookworm chick]

Quote:
did you mean there's no need for grit?

 

[saladin]

No need for grit or oyster shells if the chickens have access to dirt that I have ever found. There is also plenty of calcium in green grass.

I've never fed oyster shells as I feel it is a waste of money in my situation. Yours may be different. But I don't have soft shelled eggs. saladin

 

[clacasse88]

Thanks for all the great feedback!

I had actually visited a new grain company yesterday, and they asked me what I was feeding my hens. I told them the 'grower/finisher' feed. They said the "finisher" wasn't good for laying birds as it is meant to prep a bird for meat eating (which obviously isn't my goal).

Quote:
I pulled the tag off the feed bag and no, it's not medicated. I should probably finish up the bag. It also said to use up until 1 month before egg production. I should be safe as my girls most likely won't be laying until around March.

Should I wait until they are laying to give the oyster shells or should I do that before?

Thanks everyone!!!