Layer Feed?

[OrChickenFarmer]

I've been feeding layer feed to my 14 week old hens. Is this to early for them? Does it harm them? Should I bother to go get some grower feed? They've only been eating the layer feed for two days and I have them in a chicken tractor so their able to eat bugs and grass stuff. Thanks for the help.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, yes, you did start too early. They won't need layer for another 4-8 weeks or until one of them lays the first egg. I have fudged occasionally if I was adding just a couple of pullets to the grown laying flock and allowed them to eat the layer feed, but I rarely add pullets to the adults until they are 16 weeks old or so.

Can you get some grower for them for the next month or so and just put away the layer, then start adding it into the grower as the grower runs out? If not, it'll probably not do much damage at this stage of the game.