Yes, it does, Kathy. I just recently read an article about it in Backyard Poultry magazine. It makes their repro system mature more quickly, and you can end up with issues later such as prolapse, internal laying, and becoming egg bound - also, hens can get hernias from pushing too hard - I've actually got a hen with a hernia now, and it's not a pretty sight. She's a lovely girl, though, and she'll stay around, until she begins to have problems laying (which she will eventually). I was told by my avian vet, who I took her to for diagnosing the problem, that this can be caused from laying earlier than she should have. She's an old hen, and I've had her for several years now. It was due to the hernia problem that I began researching it more, and made changes in my feed regimen. Don't want to go through that again if at all possible! I feel a bit relieved when they don't begin laying early at this point! Then again, there's my little Wheaten Ameraucana, who is 43 weeks and has yet to bless me with an egg...hmm......
Mrs. Fluffy - the very best way to handle the "when to feed layer" question is - when you see that first egg from that batch of hatchlings. Then, switch over to layer feed.
