my hens are about laying age...what's BEST to feed??

[zumachicks]

i have three 4 1/2 month old hens and a two year old bantam (who lays already)...what should i feed them now??? shouldn't they start laying soon?! i'm so excited!

 

[Henrietta23]

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Good question! My pullets are 4 months old and I have one laying hen. I've had separate feeders but I just read somewhere that I can feed grower/finisher and make oyster shell available so that anyone who is laying or getting ready to will have it. I'm almost due to buy feed and I think rather than buying layer just yet I will buy more g/f and make sure I'm stocked up on oyster shell. I've got a mix of breeds and I think my red stars will be laying very soon; their combs are getting much redder than the other girls'!

 

[kiya4jah]

I am in the same boat. I didn't want to get 50lbs of grower when I know they will start laying in the next month or two. I decided to give them laying feed. I think that they are past the danger zone with too much calcium. They are fully developed soooo if one drops dead or deforms I will let you know.

 

[chickenlady]

No one is going to drop dead or get deformed from calcium. Go ahead and give them layer food if you have it. It will not matter either way. You and the chickens will never be able to tell the difference. Dont fret too much over it. Just enjoy your girls.

 

[Gloria]

I feed all of mine Layena. It's so much easier than trying to separate everyone, including Mr. Roo. Now if he pops out an egg I'm going to run laughing all the way!

 

[Henrietta23]

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Hey, an extra is only a bonus right?

 

[Gindee77]

I just bought a bag of layer feed to start on my 11 pullets. Most of them are about at the age where they should start laying soon (15 week old black sex-links and the rest are 18-19 weeks). I didn't want to get a whole other bag of chick feed since they really don't need it anymore. I'm going to start mixing the layer stuff with the chick feed today and wean them completely over to the layer feed in a few days.

 

[JeninMN]

Ours turned 17 weeks this past Sunday...and we need to get feed today...would you switch them to layer? None are laying yet...When do buff orps generally start to lay??? Anyone know?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

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Yes. I would switch them to layer pellets. I switch mine to layer pellets about 1 month before they start to lay.

 

[JeninMN]

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Yes. I would switch them to layer pellets. I switch mine to layer pellets about 1 month before they start to lay.

Thanks! I haven't really looked into the Layer feed yet...does this also come medicated? I've had them on medicated starter/grower...