I have 4 hens and 1 rooster. (Lost two hens from illness last year and 1 rooster is in the freezer due to his aggressiveness.) My remaining 5 were 2 yrs old in April. They are my first chickens. We got them as days old chicks and when they started laying, they started getting layer feed. I thought I came here and asked what to do since Mr Cogburn lives with his girls 24/7 and wasn't sure about the right food for them. Thought it was determined that I could use the layer and they also have a container of oyster shell plus another one with grit in the coop. I know my hens eat the OS readily and I've never seen Cogburn eat the oyster shell OR the grit. Their shells are strong, only got a soft shell egg once. Cogburn seems healthy all this time...have I been doing this wrong with the layer feed? Not sure how to feed them separate....they are very bonded. They free range in the yard every day and get fruit and veggie treats.