Mixed ages, what feed? And oyster shells VS egg shells

[EvansMeXo]

I'm in Canada, I'll have to ask them about it when I go next week for more supplies

The scratch I toss 2 handfuls in the coop at night (there's 10 of them) with a tray of grit always in there, I have a chunk of dirt in there for them to roll around in and eat some bugs until their allowed out of the coop.. but ya next week I'll see if they have a phamplet or anything telling me the info on it. When I got my chicks I just did some research on the best local place to go to and shur-gain was it

 

[Patinas]

I have asked this question on here in the past and based on my own research and advice from BYC members, here is what I'm currently doing:

I have 20 hens and one rooster and only two of my hens are currently laying. I was concerned about feeding layer feed to all of them because some won't be laying for another 2-8 weeks and I didn't want to over calcify the rooster.

So I am still feeding all of them a 20% protein starter/grower and then offer free choice oyster shell. No ill effects observed.

I have found a home for the rooster (husband hates the crowing) so he will be gone end of this week. That leaves me the option of moving to layer feed once they are all laying. But....I am considering sticking with the feeding regiment of starter/grower and oyster shell year round because I do not intend to force my hens to continue laying year round using supplemental lighting in the fall/winter. That means, there are times they don't need a forced source of calcium that is in the layer feed; when laying tapers off and when they are molting. Besides, when they're molting, I've read the extra protein in starter/grower is good for them.

My other choice would be to feed them layer feed in the spring/summer and then switch back to starter/grower in the fall/winter. Either regiment, I will always offer free choice oyster shell and grit.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm in Canada, I'll have to ask them about it when I go next week for more supplies
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The scratch I toss 2 handfuls in the coop at night (there's 10 of them) with a tray of grit always in there, I have a chunk of dirt in there for them to roll around in and eat some bugs until their allowed out of the coop.. but ya next week I'll see if they have a phamplet or anything telling me the info on it. When I got my chicks I just did some research on the best local place to go to and shur-gain was it

I went to their web site but couldn't find any specifics about nutritional analysis. You could e-mail their web site for nutritional analysis. That feed has been re-packaged, and that's why the specs aren't included.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Oyster shell is cheap around here. 50 lbs is 10 bucks, A 5 lb bag is 3 bucks and the last 5 lb bag lasted 11 months for my 5 hens. I feed a layers feed, so it would not last that long if you fed a Start & Grow, or Flock Raiser.
I fed a Start & Grow 18% protein for 16 weeks then I mixed in a layers feed 50/50 for 2 weeks, then straight layers at 18 weeks for my Golden Comets, which started to lay at 16 1/2 weeks.
If you don't have a sex-links type or white leghorns. I would feed Start & Grow for 18 weeks, then start change over.
Of course this is for chicks born early spring. If they are born in summer/autumn, I would wait till they lay to switch. GC

 

[EvansMeXo]

Oyster shell is cheap around here. 50 lbs is 10 bucks, A 5 lb bag is 3 bucks and the last 5 lb bag lasted 11 months for my 5 hens. I feed a layers feed, so it would not last that long if you fed a Start & Grow, or Flock Raiser.
I fed a Start & Grow 18% protein for 16 weeks then I mixed in a layers feed 50/50 for 2 weeks, then straight layers a 18 weeks for my Golden Comets, which started to lay at 16 1/2 weeks.
If you don't have a sex-links type or white leghorns. I would feed Start & Grow for 18 weeks, then start change over.
Of course this is for chicks born early spring. If they are born in summer/autumn, I would wait till they lay to switch. GC

I have a red sexlink who's age is unknown, I'm guessing she's around 7 weeks old but I can't be positive, I also have a "white production layer" that's what I was told it is, from googling I *think* it's a leghorn but I can't be positive.. I attached a couple pics of them from yesterday.. so are chickens like dogs/cats in the matter that their food should slowly be mixed when introducing a new feed?

 

[GC-Raptor]

They are pretty chicks, I think they're white leghorns. Chickens don't like change of any kind, including feed. I switched from a crumble type feed to a pellet. Before I changed I've read on here how chickens wouldn't eat pellets when people changed.
That's why I mixed them. I also tossed a small amount of pellets on dry ground daily to get them interested, and it work. Also the layers feed is lower protein and tripled the calcium. I believe it helps them with the change over, even if you stay with crumbles. GC

 

[EvansMeXo]

They are pretty chicks, I think they're white leghorns. Chickens don't like change of any kind, including feed. I switched from a crumble type feed to a pellet. Before I changed I've read on here how chickens wouldn't eat pellets when people changed.
That's why I mixed them. I also tossed a small amount of pellets on dry ground daily to get them interested, and it work. Also the layers feed is lower protein and tripled the calcium. I believe it helps them with the change over, even if you stay with crumbles. GC

Great! Thank you for the info