Newbie!! I really think I messed this up....

[Pampered Chicken]

OK I think I¡¦ve really messed this up and I wish I had you guys as a resource when I started out. So here goes. I got 11 chickens at the end of April. They we¡¦re 2-3 weeks old at the time. Turned out I had 6 roosters and 5 hens. Ugh! I¡¦ve gotten rid of 5 roosters and unfortunately lost one of my hens to my dogs. ƒ¼ At 18 weeks I switched to layer. I had read somewhere to do that since they should be laying soon. They have not layed at all yet and have nice red combs and wattles. I have not seen the roo mate them and have not seen them do the squatting thing. And the story moves on. So then in June I purchased 9 sexed chicks and feed them chick started until they we¡¦re 6 weeks and then I added them in with the others. Now I realize they have been eating layer since 6 weeks!!! What should I do now? Should I switch them all back to grower since no one is laying yet? They all look good and healthy. Also will a rooster mate a hen who is not ready to start laying or does he know when they are ready?

I have 3 week old silkies I¡¦ll be adding in a few weeks. I think I¡¦ll take a tote and cut a hole big enough for them to get into to eat so they can get grower. Does this sound ok?

By the way all my bird free range too. I¡¦ve searched around where I see them laying and haven¡¦t found any eggs. Today I locked the big girls in the house/run and am going to do that for a few days to see if they are laying.

Here¡¦s a link to some pictures of them.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=262966

So let me have it!!! ļ

 

[horsejody]

Use a feed such as Purina Multiflock. When the older ones start laying, put some oyster shell out in a separate dish. Be careful adding very young birds in with the older ones. Ideaaly, they should all be the same size when put together.

 

[Gonzo]

I switched to layer feed after my australorps started to lay. (back in August I think) My other hens ate it also and they just started laying about 2 weeks ago. I would'nt sweat it. Different breeds come into lay at different ages. I would think you'll be getting some eggs here in the next couple of weeks. Remember, hatchery chicks are bred to come into lay earlier, usually around 18 weeks. Don't worry if it takes yours a little longer. Sounds like you're a great "Chicken Mommy"! Good Luck!

 

[Gonzo]

Neat! I've always wondered if there was such a feed! Where do you find it? RK, and our feedstore don't carry anything like it.
Quote:

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I think he means Purina Flock Raiser. It's a 20% protein general purpose poultry ration that can be fed to any non-laying bird old enough not to need chick starter. If the birds are laying you'll need to supplement ground oyster shell for their calcium needs.

.....Alan.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

My guess is that they are laying but just not where you are looking!! My flock free ranges and the hens come back to the nests to lay their eggs. They used to be in the run all day until the evenings so they were used to the nests and probably helped them know where to put the eggs. I'll waiting to see what you get, keep us posted!!

 

[horsejody]

A.T. Hagan :

I think he means Purina Flock Raiser. It's a 20% protein general purpose poultry ration that can be fed to any non-laying bird old enough not to need chick starter. If the birds are laying you'll need to supplement ground oyster shell for their calcium needs.

.....Alan.

Right, it is Flockraiser. Multiflock is the name of a similar product from another company. I have bought both. Sorry, my mistake.​