Question about Pullet Feed

[Sk8inChick(en)]

Hi there!

My pullets are 17 weeks old, going on 18 and they have been eating starter crumbles (20% protein) up until several days ago.

We bought a bag of layer feed at the store and we mixed some of it with their starter crumbles. I'd read that you could mix unmedicated starter with layer feed as a substitute for developer feed for pullets.

Has anyone else heard of doing this? I just want to make sure we're not doing something wrong here. I'd hate to do anything to harm my chicklets!

Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Purina, Blue Seal, Hubbard, and all the major feed companies publish a "schedule" of which feeds they recommend for what ages, either on the back of the feed bag, or on their websites.

At 17-18 weeks, Layer would be fine. Grower would also be fine, if you offer calcium source on the side. (shells)

The only big difference in these feeds are:

Protein level 22% is typical for starting chicks, 16-18% is typical for Grower. 16% is typical for layer
Medicated A thiamine blocker called amprolium is typically found only in starter to help with immunity to cocci.
Calcium Super high calcium is only found in Layer. Pre-laying birds don't need high calcium as they are not yet expelling large amounts of calcium by laying an egg everyday. High calcium builds up internally in non-laying birds and can potentially cause renal problems.

In short, what you're doing is just fine.

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

Purina, Blue Seal, Hubbard, and all the major feed companies publish a "schedule" of which feeds they recommend for what ages, either on the back of the feed bag, or on their websites.

At 17-18 weeks, Layer would be fine. Grower would also be fine, if you offer calcium source on the side. (shells)

The only big difference in these feeds are:

Protein level 22% is typical for starting chicks, 16-18% is typical for Grower. 16% is typical for layer
Medicated A thiamine blocker called amprolium is typically found only in starter to help with immunity to cocci.
Calcium Super high calcium is only found in Layer. Pre-laying birds don't need high calcium as they are not yet expelling large amounts of calcium by laying an egg everyday. High calcium builds up internally in non-laying birds and can potentially cause renal problems.

In short, what you're doing is just fine.

Thank you so much!

That is a sigh of relief, thank you for posting all the info! That helps me a lot.