Must you feed layer to hens laying?

[mpgo4th]

My pullets started laying last week and I have got eggs for the last 5 days straight. At the first egg I put out a chick feeder full of oyster shell as they are still on southern states start and grow 18%. Every egg that I have got has been nice and smooth with a nice hard shell. Why would I switch to layer feed? Cost maybe? Enlighten me please but I'm thinking if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Fred's Hens]

You don't have to feed Layer. Thousands of folks do not.

Grower or Raiser or All Flock, along with a calcium supplement and you're go to go. Layer is merely made with the calcium supplement added for convenience. It has no other magic ingredients. LOL

 

[mpgo4th]

Is the 18% protein being higher that the 15-16% thats in layer going to be a problem?

 

[Fred's Hens]

It's never been with our birds.

 

[donrae]

I'm one of the ones that feed all-in-one feed to everyone. It's higher protein and lower calcium than layer feed. I have a mixed age and gender flock, this way I feed the same thing to everyone. I always give my shells back to the hens and add a handful of oyster shell in the run when I think of it or have issues with shells.

As new layers, your hens have abundant calcium for nice, thick shells. Personally, I don't think new layers need supplemental calcium so much. Yes, you can have shell-less eggs, or ridges/bumps/other shell abnormalities, but I think that's more due to glitches in production than lack of calcium. To me it's older hens, esp high production breeds, that need supplemental calcium. But, all my layers are together, so I just toss oyster shell in there and let them decide.

 

[mpgo4th]

I'm one of the ones that feed all-in-one feed to everyone. It's higher protein and lower calcium than layer feed. I have a mixed age and gender flock, this way I feed the same thing to everyone. I always give my shells back to the hens and add a handful of oyster shell in the run when I think of it or have issues with shells.

As new layers, your hens have abundant calcium for nice, thick shells. Personally, I don't think new layers need supplemental calcium so much. Yes, you can have shell-less eggs, or ridges/bumps/other shell abnormalities, but I think that's more due to glitches in production than lack of calcium. To me it's older hens, esp high production breeds, that need supplemental calcium. But, all my layers are together, so I just toss oyster shell in there and let them decide.

That's what I was thinking too. Why force feed calcium to them if only one or two need it? Nature should tell them what they need and let them pick it up as needed. Layer feed is a couple of bucks cheaper here but not enough to make a decision over. I would have just started layer for the girls but recently added a young rooster to the flock. I like him and worry about his calcium intake so that's why I stayed with the start and grow feed.