Right feed?

[AuntNomi]

I am still waiting for my hens to lay. We bought them on March 24th and I am assuming they were a few days - a week old at that time. This is the feed we currently have them on. Is this a correct feed for them to lay? It is what the lady at Tractor supply told me I needed at this time. Thank you!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I am still waiting for my hens to lay. We bought them on March 24th and I am assuming they were a few days - a week old at that time. This is the feed we currently have them on. Is this a correct feed for them to lay? It is what the lady at Tractor supply told me I needed at this time. Thank you!

It is a feed that would be appropriate for your birds at the age they are at, yes. That being said, it does not cause production. Generally speaking, 18+ weeks and/or once they begin to lay (many will not lay until 22-28 weeks or later -- what breed are your birds?) is the recommended time to start feeding layer ration *IF* you choose to use layer ration at all.

 

[AuntNomi]

I am really sorry, I am still so confused. I want them to lay eggs. I need to know what I should be feeding them, this is what the store clerk told me to buy. I am new with chickens so I do not know what layer ration is? Can you tell me what exactly to look for? Thanks

 

[ChickenGirl23]

The food won't make them lay eggs. They have to be mature enough to lay eggs. My 8 chickens were hatched March 13. One started laying August 1, another one started last week, and a third started to lay eggs today. I still have 5 not laying.

The previous poster mentioned layer rations which is talking about the type of food. Some people chose not to do a food specific for laying hens and just supplement the food with free choice oyster shells to give them the added nutrients.

 

[dekel18042]

I am still waiting for my hens to lay. We bought them on March 24th and I am assuming they were a few days - a week old at that time. This is the feed we currently have them on. Is this a correct feed for them to lay? It is what the lady at Tractor supply told me I needed at this time. Thank you!

You didn't mention what breed your pullets are. Most pullets start laying around the six month mark, but I've had them lay a first egg from a few days past four months to over 8 months old. I've also heard people say on some individual hens they've waited close to a year.
I believe the food you are feeding is for hens that are laying so you might want to wait to feed it until your birds get really close or have already started to lay. You can get a good idea. Once their combs redden in color they will probably lay their first egg within one to three weeks.
If you're seeing this, you could keep them on what they are eating, otherwise I would switch to an all purpose or grower food. If they start laying on this, you can add a bowl of oyster shells or mix the two feeds together until the grower is gone.
All my pullets who hatched in February are laying now so you probably won't be waiting much longer. It just seems that way.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Overall I agree with the others...Layena pellets is fine for hens 18 weeks and older.

As to making them lay, no and yes...depends upon the breed.

If you have production birds like Production Reds or Red Sexlinks, I have read studies that show those commercially hybridized birds do better if they are started on a layer feed to help them ramp up to laying as the bird does need enough calcium to begin to lay.

More "heritage" breeds take longer to lay, so you may delay the start of layer rations.

Waiting for new pullets to lay is sort of like watching a pot to boil...the more you watch the longer it seems to take. Do keep an eye out for odd spots where they may be laying. I've often had a new pullet sneak away into an odd place to lay eggs. While I think she is just slow to start, she is piling up eggs in a hidden corner.

Another variable is the heat...if it is really hot in your area, that can delay the start of lay. You also are fighting shortening days, so if the birds hormones/body hasn't ramped up to begin to lay before the daylight gets below 12 hours a day, they may not lay until early spring. It is always dicey with March chicks which way they'll go...whether they start to lay before the winter sets in or after.

Commercial production breeds tend to come to maturity early and will lay that first winter in spite of the shorten light.

One way to ensure laying would be to add lighting to the coop such that the birds have 14 hours of straight lighting in order to begin and sustain laying (12 hours is needed to begin, but it takes 14 to keep sustained laying).

Hopefully you'll have some eggs soon.

LofMc

 

[AuntNomi]

Thank you all very much!

 

[aart]

I like to feed a 'flock raiser' 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders,
non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein.
Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I am really sorry, I am still so confused. I want them to lay eggs. I need to know what I should be feeding them, this is what the store clerk told me to buy. I am new with chickens so I do not know what layer ration is? Can you tell me what exactly to look for? Thanks

The bag you posted is of "Layena" which is one of the commercial layer rations (simply means a feed that is designed to be fed to laying hens) available for use in feeding your flock. No feed will 'make' them lay, they will lay when their bodies mature to the point that their reproductive systems begin to operate. I, personally, don't ever feed layer ration to my birds - I, like many here, choose to feed a grower feed to my birds from the first to last day they are in my flock. At this time the feed I am using is 'Flock Raiser' - I prefer the higher protein content of grower over layer and it is easy to supplement the calcium needs of the birds by offering oyster shell (the calcium content of layer ration is higher than grower ration).

 

[AuntNomi]

Thanks. I am not trying to "make" them lay, I understand that I can not control that. I was only trying to make sure I am feeding them the right kind of feed. I think that I am going to go with the flock feed and then use oyster shell and such, as it seems to be what most tend to favor. I love this sight, it's so useful and so many helpful members! Thank you all for helping me with all of my questions.