oyser shells laying feed

[chickenmama109]

hi i have 11 hens and 1 roo they are 4 to 5 months old three of them are laying i want t put my chickens on layer and oyster shells but the other chickens are not laying will this hurt them

i have one leghorn she is laying

7 road island reds 2 are laying

a barred rock not laying

and i do not know the other breeds not laying

thanks to all help

 

[Boone Farm]

In your position I would continue with grower feed but have a separate feeder or bowl for just oyster shell.

The chickens that are laying will get enough calcium from the oystershell but the growers will still get enough protein to continue growing. You never have to go to layer feed if you offer oyster shell.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

A better option is to offer the oyster shell and forgo the layer feed - this will provide the appropriate nutrition for a the birds and allow actively laying birds to supplement their calcium as needed.

 

[lazy gardener]

At that age, you can put them on layer. The studies linking layer feed to kidney damage when fed to non layers was based on broilers which are fraught with all sorts of systemic issues.