⠀ pullets or layer mix?

[LeGardenChicken]

Hi there, recently my chickens have reached the age of 10 weeks. I was wondering if I should only use pullets for laying or use layer mix. Would it be better to mix them?
P.S would bird seed be good for scratch feed?
Thank you in advance

 

[wamtazlady]

Your chicks aren't laying and won't be laying for some time yet. Layer feed contains more calcium than their bodies can handle at this point in their lives as they are not laying. They should be kept on chick grower food until they are actually laying eggs. Scratch is a treat. Along with any other treats you give your birds it should make up no more than 10% of their diet.

 

[ChickNanny13]

You could feed them Flock Raiser & when they start laying, keep some oyster shells in a separate dish available for them. Or you can feed them layer feed. Don't think bird seeds are meant for chickens, scratch is a treat and not nutritional for chickens, from what I've read.

I feed mine Flock Raiser with Oyster Shells in a tuna can "dish" and another tuna dish with grit in their Run/Coop. Flock Raiser has higher protein than layer and can be fed to the whole flock, saves on having to several different bags of feed. I do start chicks off on medicated chick starter until they're at least 4 - 8 wks old.

Also read the thread on Fermented Feeding, it's a long one but love the benefits & saves on feed.

 

[LeGardenChicken]

Thank you

 

[Purina]

Hi there, recently my chickens have reached the age of 10 weeks. I was wondering if I should only use pullets for laying or use layer mix. Would it be better to mix them?
P.S would bird seed be good for scratch feed?
Thank you in advance

Great question! It's best to wait until closer to when your birds begin laying to transition to a layer feed, around 18 weeks. The level of calcium in layer feed is higher than that of starter feeds. The higher level in layer feed could cause kidney damage to younger birds that are not of laying age yet.

Click here to learn more about making the layer feed choice and transitioning to it easily!

 

[LeGardenChicken]

Thank you all!