Quote:
SkyWarrior,
For what it is worth....my chickens have never received layer feed and oyster shell was offered in a separate container only when the first chicken laid an egg. From what I have read on BYC feeding layer feed does not hasten laying.
I have fed Dumor starter, Dumor developer which they did not care for it so I went to Purina Flock Raiser and this past week DH came home with Turkey/Game (24% protein) from a feed mill that mixes their own feed and I mixed BOSS (15% protein) into the feed instead of throwing as scratch because I found they were missing too much of it in the sand in our run, our budget does not allow for wasted feed. They get what few table scraps we have, watermelon rinds (not the whole thing...can't afford to feed them the whole thing), overripe bananas mixed in homemade yogurt that I freeze to help them with the heat and I put ice in their water everyday because I live where we are hot for a good part of the year.
My chickens are currently 19, 20 and 22 weeks, got them all this Spring as day old chicks, so have not 'mixed chicks with hens'.
The Sex Links began laying at 16 weeks...some of that group took another week or two to start laying. One of the BO's began laying yesterday and another looks like she will start any day...they are 20 weeks old. I have two BR's that are 22 weeks that have very red faces/combs and are squatting. Also have a SLW that is 22 weeks that has very red comb and singing constantly...no squat yet. The EE began laying on Aug 27th when she was 19 weeks old and another has red comb and is squatting.
