opinion on changing food Pullet to Layer, (presently on flockraiser)

[Manok-Tao]

I know most of you have started your flocks from chicks and i hope to to so within the next year or so. My situation has me getting back into the hobby with 8 mixed pullets. I will be picking them up Friday and bringing them home to the recently finished coop. I've read Storey's on this subject, but unfortunetly as the birds have not been in my care i was not able to control much. The birds are between 16-18 weeks. My question are:
They are presently being fed Purina Flockraiser Sunfresh Crumbles. Is this an adequate or preferred feed for laying pullets?
If not, should I switch them to something when I get them prior to going to Layena (when they begin to lay), if so what is suggested?
I would have had them on Purina Start and Grow up to laying, but maybe I'm wrong there, and as mentioned it's not in my control
I'm aware that at their age I don't have a lot of time before they start laying but want to give them the best food to aide in future health/production.
If a food change is the best thing, should I wean them by doing an increasing mix ratio?
If not and they are OK on the present food until the switch to Layena, should I do an increasing mix ratio then or is the instant change accedptable?
Thanks in advance for any input

 

[Bookworm chick]

You can just leave them on the Flock Raiser if that's what you have. They'll just need free-choice oyster shell for the added calcium when they lay.

 

[Opa]

I would continue with flock raiser until you start getting eggs then switch to layer pellets.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd keep the same feed until they started laying. Moving them into a new place and changing the flock make-up is going to stress them some. Why add another stress by changing the feed they are used to.

When I switched from the starter-grower crumbles to the layer pellets, I did mix them, thinking a gradual change would help them. That's the normal procedure with any animals, I thought. Mine immediately decided to eat only the pellets and leave the crumbles behind. Others have had the opposite happen where theirs would not touch the pellets. When they start laying, I'd suggest to mix the layer with the flock raiser and see what they prefer. I had to let them run out of pellets before they would finish off the crumbles. They are not all going to start laying at the same time anyway. Eating a mix until they finish off your last bag of flock raiser won't hurt them.

 

[Manok-Tao]

Quote:
Thanks Ridgerunner, thats were i was heading and now it's confirmed