Laying pellets?

[Jencleg]

STUPID QUESTION ALERT!!! Do my hens need to be eating laying pellets in order to start laying eggs? I have 3 hens: (1) 7 month old silkie, (1) 4 month old cochin & (1) 4 month old Barred Rock....Nobody is laying, but I didnt realize till my husband pointed it out that I am still feeding medicated chick feed

 

[Ksane]

Yours aren't old enough to lay yet. And when they're ready they'll lay no matter what they're eating. Going into winter like we are yours may not lay til spring.

 

[rancher hicks]

For chicks you can drop the medicated feed immediately. After about a month or two.

For older hens 7 mos. you an wait til your sure they're near laying. I'd say at 7 mos they would be laying by now.

However laying feed doesn't make hens lay. It gives them the nutrition that need to lay. Egg laying puts a strain on them and they need to replenish supplies of vitamins and minerals.

Signs they are near laying are "redness of the comb" and "squatting" when you reach to pet them. Your 7 mos. old can lay just find to begin with on NON medicated grower. Though the eggs may be soft shelled and small. Once she begins then switch her to layer.

The 4 mos. olds should be ready in another month.


I wish you joy in chicken keeping,

Rancher

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

Mine were about 4 months old when I switched them to the Grower/Finisher feed. My first BR started laying at 18 weeks, two weeks later the next started laying, and then a week later my third BR started laying. Mine were 5 months old when I switched to the Layer feed (crumble), when that bag was done, I went to pellets, much less waste.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Layer formula is merely regular feed with added calcium carbonate (think shell or lime pellets) ground in. It provides the calcium boost needed for active, laying hens.
Pullets who have yet to lay find the higher calcium harder to deal with internally.
Sorry, no magic in laying feed.

 

[JodyJo]

not till they start laying...they may not even lay now till spring...continue the grower/starter till you see an egg, then you can add oyster shell on the side, till you switch them over to layer feed.

It is just balanced nutrition for laying hens, that helps ensure strong shells.