Layer feed in winter for non laying chicken?

[Jblanch1983]

Hello!
So we have 10 chickens 20 weeks old who haven’t started laying before the winter hit. I think now it is too cold for them to lay (freezing temps almost every night) until the spring. Do I still feed them layer feed throughout the winter? I’m worried they’re getting too much calcium since they aren’t laying for a few months?!
Also can anyone compare “scratch and peck” feed to “Modesto milling”. I found the “S&P” so dusty and felt like they might not eat all their vitamins that are in the dust?can you tell: overconcerned first time chicken owner here

 

[MarkJr]

I don’t know if it’s safe per say. This is also another reason flock feed and oyster shell on the side is more convenient for me.

 

[Cindy in PA]

The cold won't keep them from laying, it's the day length. They will probably lay just after the winter solstice if not before. Seems even though the days are still short after that, my chickens seem to know the days are lengthening. YMMV

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Layer feed is for layers. If they aren't producing eggs, they aren't layers regardless of sex or age.
Cindy in PA is right. Temperature has virtually no effect. Day length vs. dark period and which is increasing or decreasing determines production.
One winter I tracked egg production, day/night temperature and daily precipitation. Temperature, rain, snow, wind had no impact on production.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hello!
So we have 10 chickens 20 weeks old who haven’t started laying before the winter hit.

Also can anyone compare “scratch and peck” feed to “Modesto milling”. I found the “S&P” so dusty and felt like they might not eat all their vitamins that are in the dust?

I don't feed layer until they start to lay (past that point, I feed a mix of layer and grower, to dilute down the calcium some, as some of my flock is pretty sporadic with laying).

The "dust" in S&P are all the added vitamin and protein fines that make it a complete feed. To ensure the chickens eat it all it's best to wet or ferment the feed. I have fed Modesto Milling before and my chickens never quite took to it, so I switched back to my old feed. If your flock likes it, it looks like a perfectly good feed to use.

 

[WVBirdsAndBees]

You may be surprised. I've been having birds start laying right and left, even with the shorter days and lower temps.

But regardless, I'm with quite a few others. I give a good starter/grower (or "all flock") with plenty of oyster shell available. That way we don't have to worry about who is laying, who is not, and whether a rooster has access to the food. We use Nature's Best by Kreamer feeds. It's a good quality organic in this region that isn't quite as expensive as S&P or Modesto.

They will do great on whatever you choose. A lot of people do feed layer year around.

 

[ackie]

My girls have just started laying as well. Though I find the more you want them to lay, the longer it takes

 

[GC-Raptor]

(crumbled egg shells do the trick too right?!)

If you got enough: always a good idea to have Oyster Shells available, especially if you aren't feeding a Layers feed.

 

[Willow2253]

Short term, the extra calcium shouldn’t be much of a problem, but personally I would feed all flock with oyster shell on the side to be safe. Also, I wouldn’t totally rule out laying until spring. It’s been below freezing most nights here too and I have some 22 week old girls that just started laying this week.

 

[WhatTheDuckingDuck]

I feed an all flock with calcium on the side.