Layer feed at 15 weeks?

[FarmingCityGirl]

My chicks are almost done with their big bag of grower feed. Should I buy another or go ahead and buy the layer feed in case they start laying soon? My mother in law said once I switch to layer feed, they'll start laying. If that's true, would it hurt them to start laying this soon? They're big, happy, healthy, and have lots of room to roam. And a lot of their run is getting overgrown with weeds...I thought they didn't really allow that to happen lol. Are there certain weeds they don't eat? Some of them are 2-3 feet tall.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

18 weeks or when they actually start laying is usually when it is recommended to start layer feed. I used to think that starting layer feed could bring on laying earlier, but then learned that was not true. The calcium in the layer feed is not good for developing chickens, but by 15 weeks the risk probably is not that great. Tractor supply has something called grower which is 15% protein and no calcium. That is what I gave my chickens until they started laying. But layer feed might be your best choice if the only other alternative is a really high Protein starter. The extra protein might actually encourage earlier laying, which really is not that good for the pullet. In other words it depends on the feed choices available to you, but layer feed at 15 weeks probably wont hurt them.

As far as the weeds, I guess there are some weeds they don't like and they have big enough roots that their scratching around hasn't disturbed them.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

x2 laying feed does not cause them to start laying. It is feed design for the needs of birds that are already laying and NOT for non-laying birds. I would buy more grower. If your birds start to lay before the bag is gone you can just add a bowl of oyster shell on the side.

Layer is just regular chicken feed with extra calcium added that laying birds need to make egg shells. It generally also has a little bit less protein. Once they are all laying you can pick and switch to a layer or stay with grower + calcium. If you have all laying hens only of the same age then a layer may be easier but if you have a mixed flock with rooster or different aged birds or any breeds that you do lay often a grower + calcium may work better for your flock.