I'm wondering if there is a misinterpretation over the feed types here, because I don't think ANY layer feed would recommend feeding it to birds younger than 16-18 weeks. I am wondering if what you have instead is chick starter, since that is typically recommended UP to 8 weeks. Here's the usual feeding plan:
1. Chick starter - hatch to 8 weeks
2. Grower formula - 8 weeks until they start laying
3. Layer feed - from laying age on
In reality its not quite as strict as that - you don't have to dump a half bag of chick starter because they turned 8 weeks old and have to be switched to grower feed. Just finish the bag and then the next time you go to buy it, buy the grower. And, you can feed grower to any age bird, as long as you offer supplemental calcium on the side for any who are laying. The only thing you don't want to do is feed a layer formula to birds that are too young because it has calcium already in it, and too much calcium can cause issues with the developing organs of birds who are too young .
Many people wind up with mixed age flocks when they add chicks the following spring, and typically how they handle the feeding is to feed a grower formula to everyone, with a bowl of oyster shell on the side for the layers. Myself, I rarely start with chick feed - usually my chicks start straight in on the grower feed and have that until they start to lay.
1. Chick starter - hatch to 8 weeks
2. Grower formula - 8 weeks until they start laying
3. Layer feed - from laying age on
In reality its not quite as strict as that - you don't have to dump a half bag of chick starter because they turned 8 weeks old and have to be switched to grower feed. Just finish the bag and then the next time you go to buy it, buy the grower. And, you can feed grower to any age bird, as long as you offer supplemental calcium on the side for any who are laying. The only thing you don't want to do is feed a layer formula to birds that are too young because it has calcium already in it, and too much calcium can cause issues with the developing organs of birds who are too young .
Many people wind up with mixed age flocks when they add chicks the following spring, and typically how they handle the feeding is to feed a grower formula to everyone, with a bowl of oyster shell on the side for the layers. Myself, I rarely start with chick feed - usually my chicks start straight in on the grower feed and have that until they start to lay.
