Layer feed question.

[rosemarythyme]

So here is my question.. If I'm feeding a low calcium feed and offering oyster shell whats to keep the non layers from eating the oyster shell?

They're generally not interested in it. I don't see my hens blowing through oyster shell when molting, for example.

 

[Cindy in PA]

They may not die, but they aren’t going to start crying if they feel bad. Many people don’t notice a chicken has a serious health issue until the chicken dies from it.
Even if you say your chickens are fine eating layer feed when they aren’t supposed to have it, doesn’t mean someone else’s won’t get a serious issue and die. It’s like walking on a train track. Sure you may not get hurt, but someone else undoubtedly will.

Mistakes are something to learn from, not to tell your friends it’s fine do replicate your mistakes. Just the next time someone asks if they can feed a non laying chicken layer feed, say they can’t. It’s really not good for them so they may not die, but it shouldn’t be done.

And btw if you know all your information from an old magazine article I would do some more research. A lot has changed since that was probably published and it is never bad to do some more research. Many people jump into chickens based on little information and it’s not bad, but it’s not ideal. Go out and do some more research and see what you find. It never hurts to know a little bit more on a subject.

I believe my original answer was that most feeds say you can start layer feed at 16-18 weeks, which is on the bags, but assume away about my knowledge & my chicken keeping if it makes you feel better.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I believe my original answer was that most feeds say you can start layer feed at 16-18 weeks, which is on the bags, but assume away about my knowledge & my chicken keeping if it makes you feel better.

Yeah you probably know a bit more in other parts of chicken keeping but I personally have done my own research about the subject and I found that you really shouldn’t feed layer feed to non laying chickens. It probably won’t hurt them but there is still a chance they get really sick. And feed companies do just want to make money, it’s how companies work.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

So here is my question.. If I'm feeding a low calcium feed and offering oyster shell whats to keep the non layers from eating the oyster shell?

Chickens know what they need. Non laying birds typically aren’t interested but if they just grab a taste once in a while it won’t hurt them. The nice thing about oyster shells is that they can determine how much calcium they need without the chance of them not getting enough or getting too much.

Somehow chickens just know what they need. If they lack protein, they eat their eggs. If they need more grit, they eat more grit.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I believe my original answer was that most feeds say you can start layer feed at 16-18 weeks, which is on the bags, but assume away about my knowledge & my chicken keeping if it makes you feel better.

I’m not assuming, I’m using the information that YOU told me to get an idea on how much knowledge you had. You probably don’t know everything and neither do I. You are no expert, I am no expert. Even if we were, experts still go out and do more research. They don’t just sit down one day and decide that they know everything and need to stop learning. That’s not how anything works.

So just go out and do your own research. If someone states information, may it be truthful or not so, you go out and do research. You look and see if they are true or not. You use sources and tests using the scientific process, not experience from one lucky chap like you. One person is not going to know everything. No one knows everything and you can’t make assumptions I was trying to make you sound dumber for my personal gain. What would I get out of it? I would feel bad, you would feel bad, no one would get anything from it.

 

[Doc7]

So here is my question.. If I'm feeding a low calcium feed and offering oyster shell whats to keep the non layers from eating the oyster shell?

The same thing that keeps non-smokers from smoking, and keeps you from eating fruit when you really want bread and meat. Non-layers won't crave the calcium and won't go for it (at least in quantity).