One chicken laying early, when to switch to laying food?

[Kbearda12]

I have a question about switching to laying food. My chickens are just under 16 weeks old and today we found an egg! Pretty sure it’s our leghorn since her comb is all fat and red now, but who knows. The other chickens don’t look ready to lay yet or even like it’ll be soon, so should I switch everyone to laying food? Keep them on the level they’re on now? I don’t even remotely know how I’d feed Goosey separately from the other chickens, but if there’s a way I’m up for hearing it. Thank you in advance!

 

[Kbearda12]

Also related and while I’m here, we hadn’t put the nesting boxes in yet but we’re throwing them in today. Is there anything special we need to do to ensure they lay there (to the best of our ability) and make sure the not layers aren’t just hanging in the nesting boxes? I know this part isn’t food related but it ties in with my overachiever so hopefully I can get all the answers in the same spot.

 

[Latestarter]

I'm sure the one that is laying will be just fine staying on the present ration for a few more weeks while the slackers catch up. Since most start around 22-24 weeks, I'd say give them another month then switch over for all of them. The rest WILL start laying sooner rather than later and the extra calcium isn't going to hurt them either. Too much calcium is really an issue for YOUNG chicks/birds. Yours are pretty much getting to adult stage at this point.

As for the nest boxes, if you want them to learn to lay in them, you have to get them in there. You can buy fake eggs or even golf balls and place a few in each nest box. The pullets should get the idea fairly quickly after they figure out what's happening to them. Despite all this and all that, I still had hens that preferred to lay on the floor in the litter and then bury their eggs like turtles.

 

[Kbearda12]

Awesome! Thank you very much

 

[Jenniedot777]

You could put out oyster shell free choice for those that are interested

 

[BrickCoop15]

I keep mine on the chick feed until they are all laying and provide oyster shell in a separate dish for those that need it.

 

[Latestarter]

I think most provide oyster shell for their hens regardless of feed type... Don't they? I mean I always did...

 

[Kbearda12]

You could put out oyster shell free choice for those that are interested

Oh we have tons of oyster shells! I’ll throw them in today!

 

[Kbearda12]

It doesn’t matter if they’re wild harvested oysters right? We collect them routinely around here for dinner so we always have oyster shells hanging out.

 

[Latestarter]

nope... oyster shell is oyster shell... You just need to crush it up into little bits. If your birds free range throw the old shells out in the driveway and driving over them will crush them up and the birds will use the bits as they need them. Lucky you!