Is feeding Layer pellets to 17 week olds ok ?

[Jayfengling]

I got 8 17weeks old barred rock chicken , it’s ok to start layer feed now ?

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I would wait for the first egg. Until then, I would offer an all flock feed with oyster shell in a separate dish. That's actually what a lot of people do for the whole time.

The reason is that all-flock feed has a much lower calcium content, while layer feed has a high content of calcium. Too much calcium for non-laying hens can hurt them. You don't want that.

17 weeks is around the time that most bags say to feed layer feed, but that is by factory standards where they basically control everything with lights, etc. Most hens (in my experience) don't start laying until after 20 weeks.

 

[neo71665]

Only all flock with oyster shell on the side here.