Layer's rations necessary?

[Scratchin' Around]

I have seven 21 week-old pullets (a wyandotte, 2 barred rocks, a black giant and 3 ameracaunas) who share a coop with my 24 10-week-old chicks. I've been feeding them all starter/grower (sunfresh), but some of my big girls just started laying adorable little eggs yesterday, and I'm wondering if they need layer's rations. If so, how do I ensure that everyone is getting the nutrients they need, when they all share the same space and feeders?

Thanks for your help!

 

[patandchickens]

Just give them some calcium source on the side, free choice, and the big girls will take what they need and the half-grown chicks will (ideally) ignore it (I'd keep a minor eye on them tho). Oystershell from the feedstore or their own eggshells, dried and crumbled up into tiny pieces, are fine. I just wire a little plastic container onto the side of the pen and put more in as needed.

Have fun,

Pat

 

[Chirpy]

Yes, what Pat said.

Or, another option, you can switch to Flock Raiser which covers all ages of chickens until the youngest ones are old enough for the Layer feed and then switch them all over to the Layer.

You can just mix the Starter/Grower in with the Flock Raiser so you don't waste whatever you have left. Then, just don't get anymore Starter/Grower.