Question on how old your chickens have been when they start laying and when to switch off a medicate

[jlbunney]

We have out first chickens they are Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, and Easter Eggers. Of those of you that have those breeds when has your's laid there first eggs? We also still have them on medicated starter feed when would you recommend taking them off of that and starting a layer feed? They are 14 weeks old now. Thanks for your help and info.

 

[mchughs4]

I wish I had the answer for you but I'm wondering the same things myself. I heard that they don't start laying eggs until they are closer to 25 weeks, is that true?

 

[mortie]

Mine are 14 weeks and they've been off the medicated feed for quite a while and are just on regular grower. I won't switch them to layer until after I see the first egg. At that point I will put oyster shell on the side so the ones that don't need it won't be eating it.

 

[azygous]

When onset of laying occurs depends on breed. It can happen anywhere from 16 weeks up to nine months or more.

You really don't need layer feed, especially if you have a mixed age and gender flock. I stopped bothering with layer feed years ago, and just feed grower with oyster shell on the side. They like the taste better, too, and it takes all the guess work out of it.

No one seems the worse for it.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Mine are 14 weeks and they've been off the medicated feed for quite a while and are just on regular grower. I won't switch them to layer until after I see the first egg. At that point I will put oyster shell on the side so the ones that don't need it won't be eating it.

x2

I don't even use medicated feed or layer feed but same idea. Starter grower until they are around 8 weeks or so and can handle pellets. Game bird feed pellets doesn't have the higher calcium and pellets are far less waste of feed for me. For my area the feed that works and availible is Turkey/Game Bird Finisher, it's a 16% protein blend. This way my entire flock at any age is always on the same feed. Once the youngest are about 8 weeks I switch them all from the grower crumbles to the turkey finisher.

I always have layers any time of year so just keep the bulk oyster shells to throw them a handful or two once or twice a week. It keeps things simple. Most feed stores carry oyster shells in bulk so ask at the counter, it's only 35 cents a pound that way. A 10 pound bag last me a very long time.

 

[mortie]

More detail about what I did....when my chicks were itty bitty they were on medicated. I began immediately to expose them to outside ground to take advantage of it and to help them start to build their immune systems. Every day I would go out in the snow and dig out a shovel full of sod from my lawn (shhhh don't tell my husband) and put it in with them to tear apart. After the first few weeks of exposure, I began to mix medicated and non medicated. When they moved outside I continued to do that until the bag of medicated was gone then I stopped. I went through another bag of crumbles and then moved on to all flock pellet. They will continue on that until the eggs start coming, then we'll switch over to layer.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

Our Barred Rocks and Buff Orpington started laying between 19-21 weeks. I think you can safely transition off medicated feed onto regular starter/grower. When they start laying you can start to transition them onto layer feed if you want. Like the others said, since we have mixed ages, we are still feeding starter/grower with oyster shell on the side and it seems to be working fine.