I am officially obsessed with my chickens!

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ChickenLady143

ChickenLady143

In the Brooder
Sep 12, 2015
16
0
22
Indiana
I am new to the chicken world, but I am enjoying every minute of it. I have 11 chickens...I ordered 10, but the hatchery threw an extra in, to my surprise. I have 6 RIR's and 5 Black Australorps. They will be 18 weeks old in just a few days.

I have put a lot of time and care into raising my chickens and really need advice on the feed. I have read several stories about feeding layer feed to chickens to soon. I am just finishing up a 40lb bag of starter/grower feed and hate to buy another bag of it. I feel it would be ok to start them on the layer feed, but would like input from other chicken owners on this topic.

I have a couple of my Australorps getting very red in the face and anticipate an egg really soon. The others don't seem to be too far behind, but it could be several more weeks...who knows! The anticipation of the first egg is killin me!

I greatly appreciate any advice you can give.

Thanks in advance,
Kelli
 
ChickenLady143 said:
I am new to the chicken world, but I am enjoying every minute of it.  I have 11 chickens...I ordered 10, but the hatchery threw an extra in, to my surprise.  I have 6 RIR's and 5 Black Australorps. They will be 18 weeks old in just a few days.

I have put a lot of time and care into raising my chickens and really need advice on the feed. I have read several stories about feeding layer feed to chickens to soon.   I am just finishing up a 40lb bag of starter/grower feed and hate to buy another bag of it.  I feel it would be ok to start them on the layer feed, but would like input from other chicken owners on this topic.

I have a couple of my Australorps getting very red in the face and anticipate an egg really soon.  The others don't seem to be too far behind, but it could be several more weeks...who knows!  The anticipation of the first egg is killin me!

I greatly appreciate any advice you can give.

Thanks in advance,
Kelli
Click to expand...
I have a mixed age flock this year...layers that are a bit over a year old, and this summer's young ones....I've been feeding the lot 18 percent grower feed....and offering oyster shell in a separate pan....some of the older birds are starting to most so I figured the extra protein would do them good.. .they seem to be just fine....happy and healthy...if you need to keep feeding them the grower feed it won't hurt them to have it for a while longer...once the eggs are coming...you can always mix the leftover grower feed with the layer feed....I always have oyster shell available to them at all times...even when I'm feeding layer.
 
Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!

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I think the general recommendation is to wait until they are laying to begin using layer feed. Others switch over at about 20 weeks. I would suggest getting another bag of grower feed and continue to feed that. Then, once most of your girls are laying, switch to the layer feed. If you still have a lot of grower feed left at that point, you can continue to feed it until it's gone, just be sure you give them free access to oyster shell for the added calcium they need once they start laying.
 
You have been given excellent advice. Just have crushed oyster shell in a separate dish, available at all times. Chicks and young birds will have no interest in it, laying hens will take it as they need it. Good luck with your flock
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