Question about feed

[tizabel_]

Hi! I‘m a first time chicken owner and I have a flock of 6 pullets and 1 cockerel.
At what age should they switch from grower to layer feed? They are multiple ages but the oldest ones are almost 4 months.
When they do switch to layer feed, is it okay to feed the rooster the same thing as the hens although he won’t be laying? I looked it up on google and it said that feeding a rooster layer feed isn’t harmful unless you add more calcium to the feed.
I heard that laying hens should have crushed oyster shell to harden the shell of the eggs. But how am I supposed to give them oyster shells without letting the rooster have any?
Are crushed oyster shells crucial for laying hens or can they make do without? Would all that calcium be harmful to the roo if I did let him have the oyster shell?
Any and every reply is greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[The Happster]

I fed mine layers at the point they were likely to start laying. Maybe around 4 months. For my buffs it was almost 6 months.
I feed my roosters layers pellets. I don't give oyster shell unless they need it. But the roosters don't seem to take it. The hens take it as they need it. The roosters don't need it so they don't take it.
You can keep your rooster on growers, but it's easier for me to let them have layers. Although I hear it's possible it could slowly over time do a bit of damage to the roos. I've never had a problem. I think most people probably give layers too.

 

[aart]

I've found it easier to feed an 'all flock' type feed,
I use Purina Flock Raiser(20% protein, ~1% calcium),
and provide Oyster Shells in a separate feeder for the active layers.
Has worked well here for 7 years.

But how am I supposed to give them oyster shells without letting the rooster have any?

The birds that are not laying won't eat much, if any, of the OS.

Are crushed oyster shells crucial for laying hens or can they make do without?

Yes, they need calcium for good shells.
Even those on layer feed sometimes need a bit more.

Would all that calcium be harmful to the roo if I did let him have the oyster shell?

He won't eat the OS , and the calcium in layer feed can cause kidney problems in non-layers(not guaranteed to be a problem, by why risk it?).

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I have to agree with @aart. I feed mine All Flock with OS on the side. I have an adult rooster and roosters do not need all the calcium in layer feed. Layer feed should only be fed to pullets or hens that are actively laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are different opinions on this topic on here. I'll give some of mine.

There are plenty of studies that consistently show the amount of calcium in growing chicks "can" harm them. Can, doesn't necessarily mean it harms all of them. They count the number of chicks that die on the high calcium diet and cut some of the chicks open to look at internal organs and compare them to chicks raised on a lower calcium diet. I've seen one study that showed a high calcium diet "can" harm roosters. It hurts some, others it doesn't.

It's not what is in one bite, it's how many total grams of calcium do they eat all day. Then that is sort of an average over a few days too, not just one day. These studies use feed with the amount of calcium in Layer and that is all the chickens eat. A lot of our chicks and chickens eat things other than the chicken feed. People give them treats or let them forage for a reasonable part of their food. When I have a broody hen raise chicks with the flock she takes them to the feeders some, but most of the time she has them out foraging in grass and other areas. Feeding them Layer probably would not be as likely to harm those chicks as chicks that eat nothing but Layer.

I always have chickens in my flock that are not laying at the time. Some are juveniles, some are hens molting or broody, and I have a rooster. Mine forage for a lot of their food plus they get kitchen wastes and a lot of stuff from the garden in season. I'd probably be OK feeding Layer to all of them since they eat so much other stuff but I don't. I feed a 16% protein Grower with oyster shell on the side. The ones that need the oyster shell for egg shells seem to know they need it. The others may take a bite or two but don't seem to eat enough oyster shell to cause themselves harm. That way I don't have to worry about any of them getting too much calcium. But notice I offer it on the side so they control what they eat. If I mixed it with the feed then I've defeated the purpose.

There is another side to this. If all a laying hen eats is the high calcium Layer, the Layer should provide all the calcium she needs for her egg shells. But if they get low calcium treats or forage low calcium forage they may not get enough for strong egg shells. Offering oyster shell on the side takes care of this.

There are a lot of can's, if's, and maybe's in this. To make it as simple as I can I feed a low-calcium Grower with oyster shells on the side. It works for me.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I don't have any boys, just Pullets and Hens.
I feed all a Starter-Grower or a All-Flock crumble, 18 to 20% Protein.
I experienced feather picking with my first Flock when I switched to a Layer feed 16%.
I give low Protein treats after 10 weeks old so 16% feed doesn't cut it here.
I can buy and have fed two kinds of Layers feed 18%. They cost $21.25 and up for 50 lbs.
I get 50 lbs of Non-Medicated Starter-Grower $18. $16 or $17 on sale or 50 lbs of All-Flock for $19. $18 on sale.
The great thing is one bag of feed for any age, and no separate feeders. You would find the Hens at the Chicks feeder anyhow.
Just provide a separate container of Oyster Shells.

As for Roosters they would get the same feed as my hens, even if it was a Layers feed, as most Free Range Roos around here will be killed by a Predator before two years old.

I lost a Hen Friday to a Fox or Bobcat, second one this year. 22 months old. Her sister was 19 months when a Fox got her, and I only Free Range an hour before sunset daily. GC

ETA; the Layers feed that cost above $21 for 50 lbs are 18% Protein.