Help! What age for layer pellet?

[cchicks]

My chicks are 14 1/2 weeks old and I have about one day left of the grower/medicated feed. Can I switch them to layer pellets or are they not ready/developed enough yet? I read you don't want to give it to them too early. Also I read you should not eat the eggs for 10 days after they are off medicated feed. NO eggs yet, but I read it can be anytime between 12-20 weeks. I have Plymoth Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers and Brown Leghorns. All answers are appreciated!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I would wait and switch to a layer once all of your birds are laying. Get a non-medicated starter, a grower or a flock rasier feed and in a few weeks add a little bowl of oyster shell off to the side. As your birds start to lay they can eat the oyster to get the extra calcium they need. But, because it is separate and your birds will only eat it as needed, your young birds will not be getting too much.

Once everyone is laying you can decide if you want to switch to a layer or stay with grower + calcium. Either is fine. I personally do not ever feed a layer feed as I keep a mixed flock.

 

[Johnn]

16-18 weeks is the age they should be put on. You could just feed them mixed corn if you don't want to buy anymore growers, a week on corn wont affect them.