Red Stars - when to feed layer? when to uncover nest boxes?

[tomatomudhead]

Hi all,

Just as the title says, my Red Stars are 10 weeks old. Obviously too early to feed layer or uncover the boxes yet...... but, I've heard that Red Stars start laying before some of the breeds I've dealt with before (Barred Rock, Orpington). Should I wait until 18 weeks to feed the layer? Or perhaps 16 weeks instead?

What about uncovering the nest boxes? 16 weeks?

Thanks for your opinions,

Tom

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I don't feed layer til point of lay or after they start laying. I keep my pullets on medicated starter/growth to that point. I would uncover the nest boxes to get the pullets use to them.

 

[Judy]

If your nests are lower than your roosts and they are roosting at night, you can probably uncover them any time. Otherwise I'd wait til they roost every night. I wouldn't start layer til I got an egg. You can mix the old feed with the new til you get switched over.

 

[Chick Charm]

I start my flocks on layer the day I get the first egg from any one of them. So this last batch of chickens I had an EE lay an egg at 17 weeks old (all time record for us) and the day she laid the egg I switched the feed. The flock we added two years ago started laying at 19 weeks and that is when we switched over to layer. At 16 weeks I set out oyster shell that they all typically turn their nose up at, but it is there for them if they want it. We dry and grind our egg shells and throw them out at all ages and the chickens for the most part seem disinterested until they start to lay and then we see them pecking at the shells.

 

[mkhenderson17]

My Red stars started laying little eggs at 16-18weeks. I started mixing a small amount of layer with their chick feed at 12 weeks and by 15-16 weeks I had them completely switched from chick to layer. Red stars lay much sooner than most other breeds. Their eggs will be small at first but give your girls a few months, they will amaze you! My Redstars lay bigger eggs than my RIR's. Good Luck

 

[mommto3kiddos]

My RSL / Red Star girls laid their first eggs at 16 & 17 weeks. I put the nesting boxes in at 12 weeks & never had them try to roost in the nesting boxes. All eggs have been laid in the boxes (next to the golf balls).. I also started them on laying feed at 14 weeks & all the eggs have had awesome hard shells!