OK to give layer feed to 16 week old chickens?

[madicakes]

My girls are 16 weeks old. I just used up the last of their grower feed that I had, and had already purchased a bag of layer feed, anticipating the grower would last me until they were 18 weeks (the age to begin feeding it, as indicated on the bag of layer). That, of course, didn't happen. I don't want to have to run out and get more grower feed since they will be of age to eat the layer here in a couple weeks, but I will if I have to. Do you think it would hurt them to be put on layer already, or should I just purchase a small bag of grower to last for these couple weeks?

Thanks!

ETA the age provided on layer bag

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I think you can go ahead even tho it's recommended to wait until 18 weeks or older; it's up to you.

 

[rc4u]

remember its just a recomandation...not a rule by any means...jeff

 

[madicakes]

Thanks guys! I figured it would be ok. Nice to be able to ask veteran chicken people

 

[Fred's Hens]

My girls are 16 weeks old. I just used up the last of their grower feed that I had, and had already purchased a bag of layer feed, anticipating the grower would last me until they were 18 weeks (the age to begin feeding it, as indicated on the bag of layer). That, of course, didn't happen. I don't want to have to run out and get more grower feed since they will be of age to eat the layer here in a couple weeks, but I will if I have to. Do you think it would hurt them to be put on layer already, or should I just purchase a small bag of grower to last for these couple weeks?

Thanks!

ETA the age provided on layer bag

That is an assumption, however. The reality is that they could not begin laying with any consistency for another month to two months, depending on their breeding. Many, many pullets do not begin laying until 24-26 weeks.
Hurt them? You'd never "see" the hurt, as it would be minor and internal. Grower would be a good choice until you actually see the eggs. Nor would Grower go to waste as you supplement with shells on the side anyhow. If you know for certain that they'll lay at 18 weeks, then OK. Without the knowledge of what kind of pullets we're talking about here, speculation isn't all that helpful.

 

[LoveChickens123]

My girls are 16 weeks old. I just used up the last of their grower feed that I had, and had already purchased a bag of layer feed, anticipating the grower would last me until they were 18 weeks (the age to begin feeding it, as indicated on the bag of layer). That, of course, didn't happen. I don't want to have to run out and get more grower feed since they will be of age to eat the layer here in a couple weeks, but I will if I have to. Do you think it would hurt them to be put on layer already, or should I just purchase a small bag of grower to last for these couple weeks?

Thanks!

ETA the age provided on layer bag

I gave it to mine mixed with corn when they were only a week old. we dont buy the chick stater at tractor supply because it was medicated and there was something in there that made our chicks grow a lot faster than normal.
so we gave it to ours at and 1 week old so i believe it will be safe to feed them it

 

[Fred's Hens]

I gave it to mine mixed with corn when they were only a week old. we dont buy the chick stater at tractor supply because it had steroids in it.
so we gave it to ours at and 1 week old so i believe it will be safe to feed them it

What evidence do you have for the claim that TSC's starter feed has "steroids" in it? Starter can be medicated with amprollium for coccidiosis, but also be purchased in a non medicated blend.

If you fed layer to your chicks, that simply is not a good thing to do. Bags of Layer feed all have printed on them "For Laying birds".

 

[LoveChickens123]

What evidence do you have for the claim that TSC's starter feed has "steroids" in it? Starter can be medicated with amprollium for coccidiosis, but also be purchased in a non medicated blend.

If you fed layer to your chicks, that simply is not a good thing to do. Bags of Layer feed all have printed on them "For Laying birds".

Well it might have been medicated sorry for putting it that way though.
It just had something in it that made them grow faster than normal because when we bought some from tsc with the stater feed and like at 16 wks old they were full grown brids.
We feed the chicks laying mash with corn it was made by Georgia's Farm Center in Metter. We just make sure the feed we buy for the animals like the goats and horses and chickens isn't medicated because we eat the eggs and we use the goats for milk and we make ice cream and yogurt, butter.

i am sorry about that i didn't mean steroids, i believe i meant medicated i just didn't think about it.

 

[rancher hicks]

I gave it to mine mixed with corn when they were only a week old. we dont buy the chick stater at tractor supply because it had steroids in it.
so we gave it to ours at and 1 week old so i believe it will be safe to feed them it

I think I've torn off every tag on every bag of feed in TSC and laid them side by side. I've never seen Steroids on any of them. Please explain where you got your information so I don't keep using it.

For what it's worth. I feed chick starter grower until I see that first egg. Because I keep various breeds they don't all begin to lay at the same age. My Columbian Rocks mature later, but the EE's may start early.

Right now, because I have chicks and younger birds in with my Delawares the entire coop is on grower and they're laying just fine.

My Dels are the best at integrating and I can stick anyone in there and they do just fine.

My advice would be to buy more chick starter and continue until they begin to lay and then mix the layer in with the grower and make the switch.

 

[madicakes]

That is an assumption, however. The reality is that they could not begin laying with any consistency for another month to two months, depending on their breeding. Many, many pullets do not begin laying until 24-26 weeks.
Hurt them? You'd never "see" the hurt, as it would be minor and internal. Grower would be a good choice until you actually see the eggs. Nor would Grower go to waste as you supplement with shells on the side anyhow. If you know for certain that they'll lay at 18 weeks, then OK. Without the knowledge of what kind of pullets we're talking about here, speculation isn't all that helpful.

Yes, my mixed flock definitely won't start laying at the same time, and I realize 18 weeks is unlikely for any of them. I only used that age because that's what when it stated on the feed to start using it. Thanks for the advice, maybe I will just keep them on grower until I start getting eggs. I have 7 hens....1 buff brahma, 1 speckled sussex, 1 silver laced wyandotte, 1 easter egger, 1 australorp and 2 silkies. So, some of them definitely will be eating the layer feed prior to laying.